RECOVER Investigation into the Consequences of Opioid Medication Use on Neurological Recovery and Functioning in Acute Management of Spinal Cord Injury
This project is funded by the Wings for Life foundation, and it is developed in close collaboration with Prof. Catherine Jutzeler, Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich. Its aim is to delineate the utilization of opioids in acute/subacute spinal cord injury management and enhance the current opioid medication safety profile. This will be achieved through an investigation into the adverse consequences of opioid medications on metabolic changes following injury and their influence on the recovery process.
The SCI NutriTool, short dietary instrument designed to identify individuals with a spinal cord injury who are not adhering to healthy diet recommendations.
his project is funded by the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation. The main aims of this project are: (i) to develop the SCI NutriTool, a short, paper-based, and web-based multilingual instrument meant to evaluate diet quality in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and provide nutrition education, and (ii) to optimize the SCI NutriTool for use in clinical and time-limited research settings. This project's impact is significant for both the SCI community and professionals engaged with SCI individuals. I am the project PI and conceptualized the study. The project development was supported by a multidisciplinary team of project co-PIs: Prof. Sara Rubinelli (University of Lucerne, expert in health communication), Prof. Claudio Perret (Swiss Paraplegic Research, expert in sports medicine), and KD Dr. med. PhD Inge Eriks Hoogland (Swiss Paraplegic Center, expert in paraplegiology).
Research priority setting in spinal cord injury.
As part of an international consortium spanning six countries, we are developing a global survey for health professionals to identify priority areas in spinal cord injury (SCI) nutrition research. By aligning research efforts with stakeholder-defined priorities, we aim to accelerate progress in this crucial but under-researched field. This initiative will ultimately improve the lives of individuals living with SCI worldwide and provide a vital roadmap to guide future international research efforts.
Deciphering Cardiovascular Aging in the Context of Spinal Cord Injury.
This PhD project aims to advance understanding and prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals aging with spinal cord injury. The research will include a systematic literature review (with meta-analysis) and a combination of observational and interventional studies conducted in close collaboration with the Outpatient Clinic at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre, based at the Nottwil Research Campus. International partnerships and data from the SwiSCI cohort study (www.swisci.ch) will broaden the clinical context and enhance the reliability of the findings.
How should sex and gender shape rehabilitation in SCI?
Clinical guidelines derived from medical literature are largely based on evidence that predominantly includes men, potentially overlooking sex-based differences in spinal cord injury pathophysiology and treatment responses. To address this gap, we are developing a practical guide aimed at enhancing current rehabilitation and treatment programs to better meet the specific needs of both women and men affected by neurotrauma.
