Collaborative Spine Secures Medtronic Funding

The Collaborative Spine Research Foundation was formed in 2011 by neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons to advance the science and practice of spine care. Most importantly, it would be a group that made decisions about research independent of industry influence.

The foundation was founded by the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation.

On Valentine’s Day, Collaborative Spine announced the foundation is going to receive up to $7 million from Medtronic Inc.’s Spine business over the next three years to fund cross-disciplinary spinal research.

The total amount will be contingent on the foundation’s ability to secure additional industry funding for its research agenda. The funds will be used to award competitive, multi-year grants for independent, investigator-driven clinical spine research studies. That’s shorthand for: Not industry driven.

Medtronic’s senior vice president and president of the company’s Spine business, Doug King, said, “Clinical research in spine care is vital to our ability to advance patient care and improve access to needed technologies and therapies.” King said Medtronic has always demonstrated a commitment to clinical research over the years. “This grant is an evolution of that commitment. Collaborative Spine is uniquely positioned at the intersection of orthopedic and neuroscience spine care. All professional societies affiliated with spine care will have the opportunity to benefit from this research grant.”

The research agenda was developed with key neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery stakeholders. The goal, according to the February 14 announcement, “is to answer the most important research questions and ensure that all funded projects are conducted in a valid, meaningful and rigorous fashion.”

James Heckman, M.D., chair of Collaborative Spine, said Medtronic has demonstrated leadership with this grant. He said the group looks forward to other corporations and funding agencies joining this effort. “Together, we can broaden the reach of our research agenda and ultimately improve patients’ lives.”

“Collaborative Spine is plowing new ground as a multispecialty organization, ” said Charles Branch, Jr., M.D., the group’s secretary and treasurer. “While we bridge two major specialties, we represent a united pathway for industry and other interested parties to contribute to the development of the science that will transform patient care. What’s more, we’re not relying only on government or NIH (National Institute of Health) funding to move our fields forward.”

The Collaborative Spine board of directors consists of equal numbers of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, as well as a physician from a third medical specialty. The members are:

• Ray Baker, M.D.
• Charles Branch, Jr., M.D., FAANS
• Zoher Ghogawala, M.D., FAANS
• Richard J. Haynes, M.D.
• James D. Heckman, M.D.
• Paul McCormick, M.D., MPH, FAANS, FACS
• Peter S. Rose, M.D.
• Christopher Shaffrey, M.D., FAANS
• Jeffrey C. Wang, M.D.

As a result of the grant, Collaborative Spine made a funding opportunity announcement on February 11, 2013 of its intent to provide up to $10 million for original research projects that address its research agenda. Grants will be made for projects of one to three years in duration, at an amount up to $300, 000 per year. The organization will have full and sole discretion in selecting research and awarding grants, and anticipates a solicitation for research grant applications to be published by May 1, 2013, with funding to commence by September 1, 2013. More information is available at the Collaborative Spine website,