Congrats to Dr. Emily Fox on receiving the U.S. Department of Defense grant of $3.6 million to study breathing therapy for patients with spinal cord injury. For the new study, Fox and her team will investigate whether combining therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia with a slight carbon dioxide increase will enhance outcomes for patients with spinal cord injuries.
“I think this study is going to move us closer to an even more effective or potent treatment strategy and it will help uncover why some people don’t respond,” said Fox, also a BREATHE Center steering committee member. “That is critical so that we can identify patients who may need different treatment approaches.”
The study will enroll 62 individuals with chronic spinal cord injury to participate.
“Our hope is that by strengthening patients’ breathing we also increase their capacity for resilience, whether that is doing daily activities, such as getting dressed, or in illness, so that they will have more reserve to be able to face those challenges,” Fox said. “At the end of the day, acute intermittent hypoxia has the potential to make rehabilitation more effective and help the nervous system recover.”