Finding new ways to preserve shoulder function in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: The Ernest Bors, MD Award for Scientific Development

For more than three decades, the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, the official journal of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, has presented the Ernest Bors, MD Award for Scientific Development for excellence in research published in the Journal. This competitive award honors Ernest “Pappy” Bors, MD, (1900–1990), an early advocate for veterans living with the complications of spinal cord injury (1). The Ernest Bors Award recognizes authors who share Dr. Bors’ commitment to conducting research that improves outcomes for individuals and their families (2).

Dr. Bors worked tirelessly to better his patients’ care at a time when knowledge about spinal cord injury was limited and few clinicians were interested in exploring ways to improve care for individuals disabled by spinal cord injury. Despite few resources, Dr. Bors made substantial contributions to our understanding of the effects of injury to the spinal cord and the range of secondary medical complications, making a crucial difference for paralyzed veterans and their families.

Dr. Bors specialized in studying the neurogenic bladder, the underlying cause for the most common secondary complications. In 1971, he and his colleague Estin Comarr, MD, published their seminal work titled, “Neurological urology, physiology of micturition, its neurological disorders and sequelae.” (3) Although more than half a century has elapsed, this widely respected text remains the foundational resource in the field of neurourology, although the landscape of spinal cord injury care and research has been transformed. Today, the field is dynamic and diverse, driven by a new generation of investigators that continues to build upon the foundations laid by pioneers like Drs. Bors and Comarr (1, 4).

This year, a panel of judges drawn from the Journal’s Editorial Board reviewed applications from primary authors of research articles published in the Journal during 2022. Each article was scored based on its originality, the suitability of its methodology and techniques, clarity of presentation, and the relevance of the study findings to individuals living with spinal cord injury or dysfunction. The judges also evaluated each candidate’s role in their research study, their dedication to advancing spinal cord injury care and research, and the recommendations of their mentors.

This year’s winner is Omid Jahanian, PhD, primary author of the article titled, “Progression of rotator cuff tendon pathology in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: A 1-year longitudinal study,” (5) published online on 14 April 2022. Dr. Jahanian conducted this research during his postdoctoral training with Dr. Melissa M. Morrow at Mayo Clinic in the Division of Health Care Delivery Research within the Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery. With a background in mechanical engineering and a doctorate in health science and rehabilitation technology, Dr. Jahanian studies the underlying causes of secondary upper limb pathology in people with disabilities, aiming to improve everyday function and increase independence.

His award-winning research compared the upper limb outcomes of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury with a cohort of matched controls. “We used magnetic resonance imaging to clinically assess shoulder health and measured arm use and shoulder function in the real world with wearable sensors,” Dr. Jahanian explained. “I am pleased to see our research in upper limb disability recognized by the Journal and the Academy,” he remarked. “By learning how shoulder pathology progresses in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury, we anticipate finding better ways to prevent shoulder dysfunction and intervene early to preserve shoulder health.”

Dr. Jahanian was invited to present his award-winning research at the Academy’s annual conference held at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, CA, 3–6 September 2023, where he will be welcomed as the newest Bors Awardee.

Dr. Jahanian’s research study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD84423-6, PI: Melissa Morrow, PhD.)

Primary authors of research articles who may qualify for the Bors Award should contact the assistant editor for an application following notification of acceptance for publication in the Journal. For manuscripts accepted during 2023, the deadline for applications is 15 January 2024.