Spinal cord injuries are among the most debilitating, often rendering sufferers immobile or without the use of their extremities. The Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act (RRSCIRA) of 2005 was created to fund research at the University of California and is currently up for renewal.

Assembly member Alberto Torrico of the California Assembly Health Committee seeks to continue funding this research for an additional five years. He hopes that by promoting the exchange of ideas as well as the search for new treatment options, medical professionals will one day be able to conquer spinal injuries.

There are numerous theories about the treatment of spinal damage, including the potential value of stem cells for this purpose. According to the MedicalNewsToday.com, stem cell treatments have been used successfully to treat spinal cord injuries in rats, which lends many researchers to believe that human embryonic stem cells may also be beneficial for human treatment.

Of course, stem cell research is extremely controversial, which may have a negative impact on Torrico's desire to continue funding research at UC. If the public is concerned about the ethical aspects of using stem cell research, there is a possibility that the RRSCIRA will indeed expire.

The act is named after football player Roman Reed, who suffered a spinal cord injury involving crushed vertebrae.
Thus far, the act has funded "more than 120 research projects," resulting in a tremendous aggregation of research data and potentially useful information. Thousands of Americans suffer from spinal cord injuries [http://www.biren.com/CM/FSDP/PracticePage/Personal-Injury/Spinal-Cord-Injuries.asp], and the lack of viable treatment options concerns medical professionals the world over.

There are an infinite number of ways that persons can sustain traumatic spinal cord injuries. If you've been sustained a a serious spinal injury, you should contact the law office of BIREN|KATZMAN for a free consultation. Our spine injury attorneys have developed handling techniques designed to maximize recoveries for our clients who have sustained serious injuries.

If you or a loved one has a spine injury and would like to pursue justice, contact a Southern California spinal cord injury attorney at BIREN|KATZMAN at our toll-free number 866-604-5887 or visit our web site at http://www.biren.com