2025 Central Nervous System Injury and Repair Gordon Research Conference and Seminar - Project Summary: The 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Spinal Cord Injury and Regeneration: Bridging Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Innovation aims to provide an inclusive forum for researchers to share cutting-edge scientific data in central nervous system (CNS) injury and repair, with emphasis on spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI remains a major medical challenge, leaving millions paralyzed with various dysfunctions, including loss of sensation, cardiorespiratory issues, bladder and sexual dysfunctions, and chronic pain. Despite decades of efforts, effective treatments are lacking, let alone a cure. The consensus is that combinatorial approaches targeting multiple aspects of injury response and repair mechanisms are necessary for meaningful functional recovery. Building on three successful meetings since 2019, this GRC seeks to improve representation from individuals with lived SCI experience. The conference, scheduled for July 6-11, 2025, in Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco, Italy, with an accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on July 5-6, will focus on three key improvements: 1) Increasing participation of individuals with lived SCI experience, both as speakers and attendees, 2) Expanding dedicated discussion time after each session to foster more in-depth scientific exchange and potential collaborations, and 3) Introducing structured mentorship opportunities, including one-on-one pairings between established investigators and early-career scientists. The conference has three main aims. First, to foster a diverse and inclusive international scientific exchange on CNS injury and regeneration, ensuring full accessibility and integration of perspectives from attendees with spinal cord injuries. This includes not only physical accommodations but also the integration of their unique perspectives into the scientific discourse. Second, to facilitate cutting-edge research discussions and collaborations, featuring presentations by established and early-career researchers on innovative approaches across various animal models, experimental methods, and clinical studies. The program will cover a diverse array of topics, with speakers chosen based on their innovative approaches and the broad impact of their work. Third, to support career development and networking for early-career scientists through presentation opportunities, mentorship pairings, and guidance on career advancement. This includes providing ample opportunities for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and junior faculty to present their data, as well as offering insights on job applications, mentorship, faculty positions, lab management, and work-life balance. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from academic institutions, industry, patient associations, scientific charities, and publishers, and fostering robust scientific exchange, this GRC aims to bridge the gap between scientific theory and practical impact. The conference aspires to achieve equality in gender, ethnicity, disability, geographical, and age distribution among participants, ultimately enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of SCI research efforts and paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.
