Christopher and Matthew Reeve at A Magical Evening Gala, in New York 2000. Photograph courtesy of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

(Marketwire) - The late actor Christopher Reeve's son, Matthew Reeve, will make a Keynote Address at the upcoming Connections 2012 conference held by the Spinal Cord Injury Network at Sydney's Convention and Exhibition Centre on 13th August 2012.

Christopher Reeve's attendance at the Making Connections: NSW Premier's Forum in 2003 put the spotlight on spinal cord injury research including embryonic stem cell research.

Award-winning filmmaker Matthew Reeve said he hoped his visit would inspire collaboration towards a healthier, participative and more inclusive community for people with spinal cord injury.

"Connections 2012 brings together researchers, healthcare professionals, the paralysis community and other key stakeholders in a single interactive forum to discuss ways to accelerate progress in key areas of spinal cord injury research.

"Together we can build strength and capacities that derive from synergy," he said.

Spinal Cord Injury Network Chief Executive Dr Stephanie Williams said she felt honoured by Matthew's commitment to spinal cord injury research and highlighted the importance of the upcoming Connections 2012 conference.

"Each day in Australia one person sustains a spinal cord injury. Life is changed forever with devastating consequences.

"Connections 2012 aims to facilitate discussion and knowledge transfer between a range of multi-disciplinary stakeholders to work towards better solutions for people with spinal cord injury," Dr Williams said.

International speakers also include cellular transplantation expert Dr James Guest from the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and rehabilitation research expert Emeritus Professor Volker Dietz from the Balgrist Hospital in Zurich. Together with Australian experts, the speakers will review key issues in spinal cord injury research today which include:

• Will stem cells deliver on their promise?
• Neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury
• What research does the community think is important?
• Where are we going with pain treatments?

The Spinal Cord Injury Network is an alliance of leading scientists, healthcare professionals, community members and other key stakeholders who are working together to improve treatments and find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

To register for Connections 2012 please visit www.connections2012.org/

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

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