For release: April 1, 2014

NEW YORKERS TO CURE PARALYSIS THANKS STATE OFFICIALS FOR RESTORING FUNDING FOR THE STATE’S SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH PROGRAM

New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis today thanked Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers for restoring $7 million to the state’s Spinal Cord Injury Research Program in the 2014-15 State Budget.

The state’s investment in this program will reestablish New York as a national leader in neurological research. Research institutions all across the state will benefit from the funding, which has leveraged millions more in federal investment since the inception of the program in 1998.

“With this funding, state leaders are fulfilling a commitment to scientists and doctors who moved to New York in part because of this program,” said coalition co-founder David Carmel. “It will also generate hundreds of high-paying jobs and encourage more life science companies to move to our state.”

“We want to express our special thanks to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous,  Senator Kemp Hannon, Senator Mark Grisanti, Senator John Bonacic, Senator Martin Golden, and Senator Joe Robach along with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, Assembly Member Kevin Cahill, Assembly Member Amy Paulin, Assembly Member Dan Quart and 50 of their Assembly colleagues who signed a letter of support for being champions of the program,” said co-founder and retired state trooper Paul Richter.

“This restores hope to thousands of New Yorkers living with paralysis, including our veterans and law enforcement members,” said co-founder Nancy Lieberman. “Our hope is that this renewed commitment by the state will be sustained moving forward and that one day soon it will result in a cure for paralysis.”

New Yorkers to Cure Paralysis is a broad coalition that includes:

Accorda Therapeutics, Inc.; The Alan T. Brown Foundation; American Society of Neurorehabilitation; Associated Medical Schools of New York; The Burke Medical Research Foundation; The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital; The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation; The City College of the City University of New York; Columbia University Medical Center; National Spinal Cord Injury Association; Medical Society of the State of New York; Medical Society of the State of New Jersey; Mt. Sinai Medical Center; North Shore Long island Jewish Health System; Regenerative Medicine Foundation; The Rockefeller University; Spinal Cord Damage Research Center; Team Fight to Walk; United Spinal Association; University of Rochester Medical Center; and Westchester Medical Society.

For more information, visit: www.newyorkerstocureparalysis.org

Contact: Darren Dopp

(518) 432-9220

Watch this video for an introduction to this important issue: