image: Kessler Foundation's researchers will speak at the upcoming Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Conference, September 3-6, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA.
Credit: Kessler Foundation
East Hanover, NJ – August 20, 2025 – Ten leading researchers from Kessler Foundation will share groundbreaking insights on spinal cord injury recovery, technological innovation, and caregiver support at the upcoming Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Conference, September 3-6, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA.
Highlights among our presenters include Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD, who will receive the James J. Peters Distinguished Service Award and deliver a featured address. The Lectureship Award will also be presented, with honorees including Drs. Dyson-Hudson, Jeanne Zanca, John O’Neill, and vocational rehabilitation program supervisor Adria DeSimone Lapman. Drs. Zanca and Denise Fyffe will deliver the closing keynote, highlighting the Kessler Foundation SCI Navigator Program and addressing the needs of spinal cord injury survivors and their caregivers.
The Foundation’s presence at ASCIP highlights its commitment to advancing rehabilitation science and improving outcomes for individuals with SCI. These sessions offer valuable insights for clinicians, researchers, caregivers, and advocates working to enhance quality of life and independence.
Kessler Foundation’s experts will deliver insights across three key areas of research:
SCI Function & Recovery
Drs. Steven Kirshblum, Amanda Botticello, Einat Engel-Haber, Dyson-Hudson, and Zanca will present research on advancements in tetraplegia and paraplegia care, environmental factors in adjustment to injury, new approaches to determining neurological level of injury, and pain management strategies.
Technology & Innovation
Drs. Silvana Lopes Costa, Erica Weber, and Engel-Haber will share insights on eye-tracking technology for detecting traumatic brain injury in people with SCI, understanding the prevalence and impact of cognitive impairment in chronic SCI, and transcutaneous spinal stimulation to improve blood pressure and reduce orthostasis.
Caregiver & Vocational Support
Drs. Fyffe, Zanca, Dyson-Hudson, O’Neill, and supervisor DeSimone Lampman will present research on supporting family and professional caregivers, the SCI Navigator Program for care coordination, and early vocational interventions to aid return to work.
About the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals Conference
The ASCIP Conference is a leading event dedicated to advancing spinal cord healthcare through cutting-edge research and clinical practice updates. It fosters educational opportunities for SCI professionals, provides a dynamic forum for networking, and promotes access to high-quality care. With a strong focus on improving quality of life, ASCIP also plays a vital role in disseminating information and encouraging ongoing research in the field of spinal cord injury and disease. For more information visit the ASCIP website.
About Kessler Foundation
Kessler Foundation, founded in 1985, is a New Jersey-based nonprofit and global leader in rehabilitation research committed to changing the lives of people with disabilities. By conducting groundbreaking research, Kessler Foundation advances recovery and fosters independence to build a more inclusive and accessible world.
Its team of award-winning scientists develop and test novel interventions to transform care and optimize mobility, cognition, and quality of life for people with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and other neurological and developmental disabilities. By analyzing community and workforce participation, developing evidence-based solutions, and funding impactful community initiatives that expand employment opportunities, Kessler Foundation also addresses barriers to inclusion for people with disabilities.
Powered by a dedicated team of over 200 professionals funded by federal and state grants and private philanthropy, Kessler Foundation is redefining what is possible in rehabilitation care and recovery. For more information, visit kesslerfoundation.org.
Press Contact at Kessler Foundation:
Carmen Cusido, ccusido@kesslerfoundation.org
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