Research Grant Committee Update

Michael K. Rosner, MD
Research Grant Committee Chair

Research and Education remain the principle lifeline of our society.
The Research Grant Committee received 20 grant applications in the spring cycle (April 1, 2016) that were reviewed and considered for funding. The research committee consists of 26 members who each reviewed approximately 6-7 grants for a designated team. The research committee is deeply appreciative of the support provided by Ashtin Neuschaefer, SRS staff liaison, for her continuous work to make the review process smooth and timely. 

This spring the research grant committee awarded the following grants totaling $70,000.00:

Title of Project	Pr. Inv/Co Inv.	Amount Requested	Type of Grant	Amt. Approved
Biomechanical in vitro comparison of pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) and anterior column release (ACR) for severe sagittal imbalance correction	Dr. Luigi La Barbera	$25,000.00	SRS-Globus NI	$25,000.00
3D modeling for magnetically controlled growing rods	Dr. Jason Pui Yin Cheung	$24,996.00	SRS-Globus NI	$15,000.00
Use of Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis - Randomized Clinical Trial	Dr. Sumeet Garg	$25,000.00	SRS-Globus NI	$10,000.00
The Ultimate Patient Reported Outcome: Validation of the Patient Generated Index (PGI), Risk Aversion (RA) and Decision Regret (DR) Questionnaires in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS)	Dr. Baron S. Lonner	$50,000.00	SRS-Globus SI	$20,000.00

The new application cycle has opened for the fall cycle and will close October 1, 2016. 

A Research Outcomes Sub-Committee has been reviewing progress reports, final reports, and extension requests from past grant winners. In each case, the committee decides whether to release funds as per the initial grant, or request further data or, as in the case this year, to withhold further release. Investigators need to be aware that considerable scrutiny and discussion takes place before the decision is made to release the funds, and the decisions are made much easier by the investigators submitting a detailed report in the required format.

Michelle Marks, PT, MA continues to lead the charge on post final report follow up to provide data on what has been produced from the funds provided by SRS.

The Lunchtime Symposium at the Annual Meeting & Course has been accepted. We have invited presentations from SRS research grant recipients that represent a range of scientific areas. Below you will find the agenda for the Lunchtime Symposium on September 23 at 12:00pm in Room, Meeting Hall

12:00 – 12:05pm 
Introduction
Patrick Cahill, MD

12:05 – 12:15pm
What is the Clinical Significance of Measuring Lumbopelvic Position?
Ann M. Hayes, PT, DPT, OCS

12:15 – 12:25pm
Study of Neural Connectivity, Functional Activation and Grey Matter Volume of the Sensorimotor Network in Idiopathic Scoliosis
Julio Domenech Fernandez, MD, PhD 

12:25 – 12:35pm
Biomechanical Evaluation of a Dynamic Stabilization System for Prevention of Proximal Junction Kyphosis (PJK)
Dilip K. Sengupta, MD

12:35 – 12:45pm
The Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacogenetic Profile of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Decreasing Blood loss in Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery
Michael T. Hresko, MD

12:45 – 1:00pm  Discussion