Building a UK SCI strategy – insights from Canada

Wednesday 9 July 2025

About this event

We’re excited to invite you to a special webinar where experts from Canada working at the spinal cord injury research and innovation organisation, Praxis will share their journey in developing a national spinal cord injury (SCI) strategy.

This event is a key lead-in to our Rebuilding Lives Conference (2–3 October), where we’ll present the findings of our recent UK-wide consultation and begin shaping a collective SCI strategy for the UK.

Meet the presenters

John Chernesky
Manager of PLEX Program

With over 30 years of lived experience of spinal cord injury, John Chernesky has participated in dozens of research studies in addition to being a co-investigator on a number of research projects. He works closely with spinal cord injury PLEX (persons with lived experience of SCI including people living with SCI, their family and friends, PLEX-focused community organizations and advocacy groups) to ensure research is addressing their priorities.

Read more about John Chernesky

Vanessa Noonan, MSc PhD PT
Director, research & best practice implementation

Dr. Vanessa Noonan is a physical therapist who focusses her research and clinical practice on spinal cord injury. Having practised in both acute and rehabilitation settings, her research examines processes and outcomes of care following SCI rehabilitation, with the goal of moving research into practice and creating standards of care. As Director of Research & Best Practice Implementation, Vanessa is responsible for leading translational research and best practice implementation projects at Praxis Spinal Cord Institute.