At its recently concluded annual meeting the North American Spine Society (NASS) announced the 2024 Research Funding Program winners. These grants and traveling fellowships, which total $159,059 this year, provide funding for promising projects by qualified investigators in spine care.
The recipients were selected by the NASS Research Funding Committee and Evidence Analysis & Research Council, and approved by the NASS Executive Committee based on scientific merit, significance of the project, approach, and feasibility.
The 2024 Research Funding Recipients are:
Grant (Young Investigator – Basic)
- Study Title: “Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Tie2-enhanced Nucleus Pulposus Progenitor Cells: An Innovative Cell-free Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration”
- Principal Investigator: Luca Ambrosio, M.D.
- Amount: $20,000
Dr. Ambrosio told OTW, “This project aims to explore the regenerative potential of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) specifically overexpressing the Tie2 receptor, which has been associated with a biologically potent progenitor phenotype. Extracellular vesicles isolated from such cells will be investigated as an innovative regenerative therapy for intervertebral disc degeneration both in vitro and in vivo using a large animal model.”
Grant (Basic)
- Study Title: “Manipulating Ventral Spinocerebellar Tract Neurons for Promoting Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury”
- Principal Investigator: Joshua Chalif, M.D., Ph.D.
- Amount: $40,000
“Ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons have recently been discovered to be essential in mammalian locomotion,” commented Dr. Chalif to OTW. “The current proposal plans to explore how activation of VSCTs may provide improvement in locomotor ability following spinal cord injury.”
Grant (Clinical)
- Study Title: “Improving Patient Health Literacy through Gamification of Medicine using Augmented Reality-Powered Tools for Common Spinal Conditions: A Proof-of-Concept Study”
- Principal Investigators: Safdar N. Khan, M.D. and Hania Shahzad, M.D.
- Amount: $13,000
The authors told OTW, “This study aims to utilize augmented reality models accessible on a user’s personal device (surgeon/resident/patient) to enhance patients’ health literacy about their spinal disease and treatment. The goal is to support patient-centric efforts and foster health care decision-making driven by patients themselves.”
Grant (Clinical)
- Study Title: “Examining CSF Hydrodynamic Changes in Stenotic Patients Using 4D Flow MRI”
- Principal Investigator: Numaira Obaid, Ph.D., E.I.T.
- Amount: $25,059
“Degenerative stenosis in the cervical spine is a prevalent problem in older adults, causing adverse impacts on the central nervous system,” noted Dr. Obaid to OTW. “Stenotic obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid can reduce cord protection, and we aim to systemically investigate the effect of degenerative stenosis on local CSF flow and its influence on the spinal cord.”
Grant (Young Investigator – Translational)
- Study Title: “Rib Fixation for Prevention of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis (PJK) in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery”
- Principal Investigator: Daniel Bonthius, M.D., Ph.D.
- Amount: $40,000
Dr. Bonthius told OTW, “Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is an important problem following adult spinal deformity surgery. The proposed studies will explore a new method of PJK prophylaxis that utilizes rib fixation to create a “soft landing” at the upper instrument vertebrae (UIV) in high-risk patients undergoing fusion surgery for spinal deformity.”
Fellowship (Clinical Traveling Fellowship)
- Award Recipient: Ahmed Rizk, M.D.
- Participating Institutions: Barrow Neurological Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Inspired Spine Health, Duke Health System
- Amount: $7,000
Dr. Rizk told OTW, “I will focus on expanding my knowledge in performing endoscopic spinal surgeries, including endoscopic-TLIF surgeries; minimally invasive lateral procedures including Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)/Oblique Interbody Fusion; degenerative deformity corrective procedures involving LLIF, Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion; and spinal tumor procedures like corpectomy. Though I have completed coursework involving cadaveric workshops for most of these procedures, this opportunity will provide invalulable insight and training on technical operative details and decision-making that will allow me to help more patients, as well as improve the quality of service given.”
Fellowship (Clinical Traveling Fellowship)
- Award Recipient: Yunus Kuntawi Aji, M.D., Ph.D.
- Participating Institutions: Technical University of Munich (Germany), Yonsei University Health System (S. Korea), Korea University College of Medicine (S. Korea)
- Amount: $7,000
“By pursuing this fellowship,” stated Dr. Aji to OTW, “I hope to learn about endoscopic surgical techniques, including advanced procedures in endoscopic decompression, discectomy, and fusion, as well as enhance my understanding of patient selection criteria and preoperative planning for endoscopic procedures. Ultimately, my goal is to become a leader in the field of minimally invasive spine surgery in Indonesia, advocating for the adoption of advanced techniques and improving patient outcomes. Upon completion of the fellowship, I am committed to returning to Indonesia and sharing my knowledge and expertise with colleagues at the National Brain Center Hospital in Jakarta, thereby enhancing the quality of spine care in my country.”
