Spinal cord injury (SCI) reshapes life in ways that go far beyond physical changes. It changes how people move through their days, how they connect with others, and how they see themselves over time. These experiences are central to life after injury, yet research has not always taken them into account. The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation’s Psychosocial Research (PSR) portfolio exists to help address that gap. This year, the Foundation announces 14 new PSR grants, supporting research that focuses on the emotional and social impact of living with SCI.
PSR grants support research that looks at mental health, relationships, identity, and participation in daily life, not only for individuals with SCI but also for family members and caregivers who support them. Over time, these efforts have shaped care practices, strengthened peer support programs, and contributed to tools that clinicians and individuals can use in real-world settings. A number of grants focus on building a deeper understanding of the challenges people face, while others give researchers more time to develop and test new approaches. Together, they help move ideas forward in ways that can lead to practical, usable solutions.
This year’s grants reflect both the complexity of life with SCI and the importance of looking at familiar challenges from new angles. One, for example, focuses on romantic partners, bringing attention to a part of sexual wellness that research has often overlooked. By working directly with the partner of someone living with SCI as well as their clinicians, the team aims to create tools that help couples navigate changes in intimacy and communication after injury—something many experience, but few resources directly address.
Another area of focus looks at loneliness, which continues to affect many people living with SCI even when they are connected to others. This effort builds on an existing group-based program designed to help people feel more confident in social situations. By adapting it specifically for SCI, researchers are exploring how structured support, shared experiences, and practical skills can help people reconnect in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable over time.
The work being supported stays grounded through ongoing input from people with lived experience. They shape this research at every stage and help ensure it reflects real needs and priorities. With goals to look at everyday challenges, find approaches that benefit daily living and identify barriers to participation, these perspectives keep the focus on what matters day to day and help build support that fits into people’s lives.