TIRR Memorial Hermann is a leader in spinal cord injury (SCI) research. The Spinal Cord Injury and Disability Research Center (SCIDR) is the home of the Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System (TMSCIS), directed by Heather Taylor, PhD. TIRR Memorial Hermann was one of the first facilities in the United States to be awarded the highly competitive federal designation as a Regional Model Spinal Cord Injury System for exemplary patient management and research. SCIDR received federal and foundation funding to benefit individuals with SCI and other disabilities.
The mission of the SCIDR is to improve functional recovery, health and quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and other physical disabilities. SCIDR had been conducting research on SCI long before 1972, when it became among the first inpatient rehabilitation programs to be designated as a Model System of Care by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
SCIDR conducts investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies, including local studies, multicenter studies and clinical trials of individuals of all ages with SCI and physical disability. Research focuses on optimizing acute and chronic care for people with spinal cord injury, facilitating active community involvement and access to care, improving quality of life and reducing the risk of secondary complications and conditions such as depression and chronic pain. Investigators at SCIDR have extensive experience developing and testing interventions to improve functioning, psychosocial health and quality of life across the lifespan.
As a community advisor at TIRR Memorial Hermann, Linda, shares her experiences and how research helps to advance clinical care and outcomes for patients with spinal cord injuries.
SCIDR researchers have a long history focusing on psychosocial health for people with physical disabilities, including SCI. Dr. Taylor’s NIDILRR funded projects have included evaluating the variability of pain, depression, and resilience among men and women with SCI as it relates to life satisfaction. Dr. Robinson-Whelen has collaborated and led multiple research projects including, obtaining site funding as part of the Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System, to evaluate a psychosocial health intervention for women with SCI in the virtual world of Second Life.
SCIDR research spans both adults and children with SCI and spinal disorders. Past projects have emphasized motor development, recovery, and motor learning, contributing to our understanding of motor learning in disability and its relation to physical, psychological and cognitive functioning. Dr. Taylor’s experience includes her previous role as site director and current affiliate for the NeuroRecovery Network focusing on activity based therapy in adults with SCI as well as her evaluation of motor learning and neurorecovery in children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy.
SCIDR researchers have collaborated on numerous projects developing and testing various interventions to improve motor functioning, health, psychological functioning, cognition, and quality of life. This work has included interventions on psychological health, stress, self-esteem enhancement, and depression. They have collaborated nationally with researchers including, Dr. Rosemary Hughes (The Rural Institute, University of Montana), and Margaret Nosek, (Center for Research on Women with Disabilities, Baylor College of Medicine). SCIDR researchers have collaborated and ledprojects investigating neurorecovery in locomotor training as well as Dr. Taylor’s collaborative research with McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) evaluating various interventions for children with disabilities, focusing on motor, attention and organization deficits.
SCIDR has contributed to the assessment of patient-reported outcomes by playing a key role in the evaluation of outcome measures for adults and children with SCI. For example, Dr. Robinson-Whelen is interested in loneliness among people with SCI and has evaluated the psychometric properties of measures in this population. Dr. Taylor participated as a member of the NINDS Spinal Cord Common Data Element, Pediatric Work Group from 2014 – 2015 resulting in published work on recommendations for assessments working with children with SCI, and has collaborated with Dr. Mary Jane Mulcahey (Jefferson University) to evaluate the use of adult measures in SCI to determine their potential for use in pediatrics.
Dr. Taylor (Chair), Robinson-Whelen, and Wenzel (members) are actively involved in the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine’s SCI Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group Women’s Health Task Force (ACRM SCI-ISIG WHTF) and for the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Women’s Health Special Interest Group (WH-SIG), focusing on the unique concerns of women’s health after SCI. In collaboration with national experts, they work to bring awareness to the unique needs of women with SCI. SCIDR recently received funding to develop a web-page resource directory for women with SCI that will provide educational information as well as identify practitioners who provide accessible services for women.
Principle Investigator: Heather B. Taylor, PhD
Co-Investigators: Matthew Davis, MD, Argyrios Stampas, MD, Lisa Wenzel, MD, Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD, Rosemary Hughes, PhD, and Margaret Nosek, PhD
Research Assistants: Kristine, Lopez, PT, Rachel Markley, MPH, Araceli Rodriguez, BS, Aime Urquieta, BS, Jose “Joey” Vega, BS
Senior Advisor: William H. Donovan, MD
Funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), September 29, 2016 - 2021
The Texas Model Spinal Cord Injury System (TMSCIS) at TIRR Memorial Hermann is one of 14 centers enrolling newly injured individuals with SCI into the National Spinal Cord Injury Database. This longitudinal study follows individuals with throughout their lifetime. The TMSCIS local project (ZEST: PI Dr. Robinson-Whelen) is a psychsocial intervention for women with SCI conducted in the virtual world of Second Life (link). The TMSCIS also collaborates in 4 module projects with other centers focusing on pain, complementary integrated health, acute trauma services, and exoskeleton use in SCI.
Enhancing Healthcare for Women with Spinal Cord Injury through a Web-based Information Resource
Funded by The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Creating Opportunity and Independence (CO&I) Sustainable Impact Project (SIP)
November 30, 2018 - 2021
The purpose of this program is to develop and evaluate a web-based national resource, in response to the needs of women with SCI that fills health care gaps including new health information, a listing of practitioners who serve women with SCI, and a comprehensive directory of existing health resources.
The Relations among Pain, Depression, and Resilience and their Prediction of Life Satisfaction in Men and Women with Spinal Cord Injury
Funded by the National Institutes of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, 2016/09/30-2018/09/29, no cost extension through 2019/09/29
The goal of this study is to examine chronic pain, resilience, depression and satisfaction with life among approximately 100 men and 100 women with spinal cord injury in a longitudinal study over the course of one year.
Principle Investigator: Heather B. Taylor, PhD
Co-Investigators: Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD, Rosemary Hughes, PhD, Eva Widerstrom-Noga, PhD
Research Assistants: Rachel Markley, MPH, Aime Urquieta, BS, Jose “Joey” Vega, BS
Occupational Performance Coaching in Pediatric Patients with Spinal Cord Injury.
Principle Investigator, Subcontract: Heather B. Taylor, PhD
Research Physical Therapist: Kristine Lopez, PT
TIRR Memorial Hermann with Jefferson University
Mary Jane Mulcahey, PhD, Principal Investigator,
Funded by Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, 2018-2020.
The goal of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of conducting an occupational performance coaching program with parents of children with SCI and to evaluate outcomes.
Development of an eHealth Group Weight Management Intervention for People with Spinal Cord Injury
Susan Robinson-Whelen, PhD, Principal Investigator, Rosemary Hughes, PhD, Margaret Nosek, PhD, Heather Taylor, PhD, Collaborators, Stephanie Silveria, PhD, Rachel Markley, MPH, & Araceli Urquieta, BS, Coordinators.
Funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, 2016-2018
Opioid Use in Acute Care for Traumatic SCI.
Principal Investigator, Subcontract: Argyrios Stampas
Co-Investigator: Heather Taylor
UTHSC/TIRR MH/TAMU, Michelle Hook, PhD, Principal Investigator, funded by Mission Connect. 09/01/2016 ‐ 08/31/2017 (no cost extension)
Enhancing Early Learning for Infants with Disabilities: A Responsive Parenting Intervention
Principal Investigator: Heather Taylor (UTHealth and TIRR MH)
Co-Investigators (in alphabetical order): Marcia Barnes, PhD, Cathy Guttentag, PhD, Hsien-Yuan “Mark” Hsu, PhD, Susan Landry, PhD, Paul Swank, PhD, (UTHealth)
Coordinator: Jose “Joey” Vega
UTHSC and TIRR Memorial Hermann, funded by the Institute of Educational Sciences, September 2012 - August 2016,(September 2016 - January 2018 - no cost extension).
Pediatric Multi-Center Evaluation of Notable SCI Outcome Instruments
Principal Investigator, Subcontract: Heather Taylor, PhD
Research Physical Therapist: Kristine Lopez, PT
TIRR Memorial Hermann with Jefferson University, Mary Jane Mulcahey, PhD, Principal Investigator, funded by Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, 2014-2016.
Characterizing Arts in Medicine Performances and the Impact on Audience Engagement and Mood at a Children’s Cancer Center
Principal Investigator, Subcontract: Heather B. Taylor, PhD
TIRR Memorial Hermann with Texas Children’s Hospital, Ernest Fruge, PhD, Principal Investigator, funded by Young Audiences of Houston Donation, 2011 - 2014.
Principal Investigator and NRN Center Director: Heather B. Taylor, PhD
Co-Investigators: Matthew Davis, MD, Lisa Wenzel, MD, and Argyrios Stampas, MD
Clinical Supervisor: Marcie Kern, PT
Research Coordinator/Data Manager: Michelle Feltz, BA
Funded by the Centers of Disease Control and the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation, April 2012 - 2016 (2016 -2017 no cost extension)
TIRR Memorial Hermann was one of seven NRN centers developing and providing therapies to promote functional recovery and improve the health and quality of life of people living with paralysis. TIRR Memorial Hermann’s NRN program was conducting Locomotor Training (LT) with individuals with SCI and collecting comprehensive medical information about the progress of each participant. This was a subcontract between the rehabilitation hospital and the University of Louisville (Susan Harkema, PhD, Principal Investigator), funded by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
For more information on the Spinal Cord Injury and Disability Research Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann or to contact the SCI research staff, please use the information below.
Phone: (713) 797-5972
Email: SCIDR@memorialhermann.org
Angel spent several months in the children’s hospital in Austin recovering from the accident. During that time, his parents researched rehabilitation hospitals and learned about Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Robert spent a total of nine months at TIRR Memorial Hermann and had physical and occupational therapy every day. In addition, TIRR Memorial Hermann provided Robert with an opportunity for education, and he later returned there as an employee.
“I began rehabilitation thinking I would not be able to do anything again, but that wasn’t true,” said Justin. “It’s about learning how to work through your limitations and find other ways to accomplish your goals.”
Linda says she found a new passion when she began participating in research at TIRR Memorial Hermann – she understands how these studies are beneficial for patients.
When Abbi first arrived at TIRR Memorial Hermann, she had mild weakness in her legs, patchy sensation in her legs, painful numbness and tingling in her legs, and difficulty with maintaining her blood pressure when sitting and standing because of her spinal cord injury from her tumor.
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