General

Dr. Michael Beattie, PhD, has recently completed his term on the Praxis Board of Directors, where he also served as the Chair of Praxis Advisory Committee (PAC) while also working as the Director of research for Brain and Spinal Injury Center at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a professor at Department of Neurological Surgery. As he begins his retirement and starts a new chapter with his life with his wife and research partner, Dr. Jacqueline Bresnahan, we thank him for his important contributions to Praxis.

Dr. Michael Beattie understands the power of teamwork.

With an academic CV that includes being the founding chair of the Department of Neuroscience for Ohio State University, working as the Co-Director and Director of Research for the Brain and Spinal Injury Center in the Weill Institute for Neurosciences and Department of Neurological Surgery at UCSF, and authoring more than 140 peer-reviewed publications, he’s lived it.

“Science is at its best when people work together, sharing knowledge for the betterment of humanity,” he says.

Throughout the course of his 50+ year career, Dr. Beattie has experienced this firsthand several times, even having the opportunity to work in partnership with his brother (Dr. Eric Beattie), wife (Dr. Jacqueline Bresnahan), and many other esteemed researchers and scientists.

Dr. Beattie’s initial research focused on recovery of function from cognitive brain damage. While at Ohio State, this work involved research around how different molecules could potentially regulate the immune response to spinal cord injury (SCI). One aspect of this involved investigating TNF alpha, a natural immune system molecule that mediates inflammation Coincidentally, his younger brother was doing a postdoc at Stanford University on synaptic transmission and cultures of hippocampal neurons at the time.

“We decided to try to share notes and work together,” Dr. Beattie says. “The result was radical, and we discovered that TNF alpha altered the way that the neurons communicate.”

This discovery led to research that was published in a white paper entitled, “Control of synaptic strength by glial TNFa” and appeared in the journal Science in 2002 (E. Beattie et al, vol 295, no. 5563, pp 2282-2285). It also initiated a new avenue of research focused on how immune molecules change the body’s internal response to injury.

“My brother’s research supported a “repair” theme that Jacque and I had been focused on,” says Dr. Beattie. “The only way you can make real change in science is by sharing learnings and insights. This sometimes involves compromising, and giving up your ego, but the reward of improved health outcomes is worth it.”

In 2006, Drs Beattie and Bresnahan had an opportunity to relocate to San Francisco to join a group called the Brain and Spinal Injury Center at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), which boasts one of the nation’s premier trauma centers. This center is known for its clinical research in both SCI and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and runs parallel programs called TRACK-SCI and TRACK-TBI. Thousands of car crash, sports injury and other patients with spinal cord injuries are directed to the SFGH trauma center because of the specialization it offers. The opportunity to take basic biology and work towards benefits that could be translated into human spinal cord injury practice appealed to the husband-and-wife team, so they moved to start a new exciting chapter of work, which led to Dr. Beattie becoming the principal investigator on TRACK-SCI.

When it comes to spinal cord injury, initial care can set the stage for recovery. Ironically, it is the body’s own attempt to heal itself that can worsen a spinal cord injury by impeding signals between the nerves and brain. At SFGH, Drs Beattie and Bresnahan’s goal was to discover ways to save some nerve function, limiting paralysis, and considerably improving the quality of life as a result. This work led them to become the recipients of the 2012 Reeve-Irvine Research medal for excellence in SCI research.

Excellence in science has been defined as making discoveries, publishing them in important journals and receiving prestigious recognitions. Dr. Beattie expands this definition by adding effective collaboration, attributing his work as a board member for Praxis Spinal Cord Institute to increasing his understanding of how powerful true collaboration can be.

Dr. Beattie served on the Board from 2017, recently stepping down in the Fall of 2024 as part of his retirement planning. He and Dr. Bresnahan are now embarking on a new type of project, a home renovation.

“We bought a place a few years back on the coast of California and are remodelling it with the help of our daughters, who are both artists in different disciplines and have been using it for workshops. Wouldn’t it be great to create a space that brings together science, art and music?” he says, adding that this has become a new family goal.

And while Dr. Beattie may be passing the research torch on, he still talks enthusiastically about the research and work being done around SCI.

“Progress in research can’t be measured by time. I tell anyone entering the field of spinal cord injury research to carry on and not give up. We are seeing improved outcomes in the clinic every day. Focus should always be on progress; results will come with that.”

To Learn More, Visit Praxis News.

Ben Almond has recently completed his term on the Praxis Board of Directors, where his leadership and vision made a lasting impact. As he embarks on an exciting new professional chapter, we thank him for his invaluable contributions to Praxis. Ben’s guidance has been instrumental in advancing our mission, and we wish him success in taking on new challenges and providing leadership in the next phase of his life.

To Ben Almond, it’s ability over disability.

While the way you do something may change, being able to accomplish it shouldn’t.In 2005, a downhill mountain biking accident gave this new meaning to Ben when he sustained a T8 spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

“In that moment, a new world was presented to me. Simple things like stairs, curbs, the top shelf, and ice in the winter became challenges – and I felt very exposed,” he says. “I had to redefine resilience, look for solutions differently, and come to the realization that my wheelchair is a tool to enable success.”

According to research from the World Health Organization, around 16 per cent of the world’s population (which is more than one billion people) are living with a disability. In Canada, the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability highlights that 27 per cent of people, aged 15 years and older, are living with more than one disability. From 2017 to 2022, this increased by five per cent, from 6.2 million to 8 million people.

Ben believes that greater health equity can be achieved if we focus on the commonalities of disabilities, rather than siloed concerns. For example, a curb cut makes streets accessible for wheelchair users, and it also improves mobility and lessens challenges for anyone pushing a stroller, riding a scooter or using a walker or white cane.

“When we create solutions for those facing the most significant barriers, we all benefit,” he says. “The work at Praxis is important because it enables collaboration across the global spinal cord injury community to accelerate research, share learnings and best practices, reduce costs and ultimately improve the lives of those living with spinal cord injury. While this work is inspired by a mission to create a world without paralysis, it is truly valuable to anyone who experiences mobility issues.”

“Praxis is an accelerator for spinal cord injury (SCI) research. SCI is a difficult area for researchers as there is simply not enough data available. Praxis facilitates connection between those doing the work to further it and facilitates pathways for innovation for the most promising technology developments in the space,” adds Ben. “When you look at the way someone is treated with an acute spinal cord injury today, it’s drastically different than my experience 20 years ago. Praxis has played a big part in this.”

Ben’s professional background encompasses several leadership roles for large international companies focused on sustainable long-term energy solutions. As a highly accomplished CEO and Top 40 Under 40 executive, he credits his professional success to the breadth of his experiences. While he first questioned the value he could bring to the Praxis Board, he quickly came to realize how his lived experience and business acumen could strengthen and support the important work being done within the field.

Having witnessed this firsthand, Ben is now embarking on a new professional chapter with the recent launch of BISCO Solutions, a strategic advisory organization that provides leadership support and business coaching to help leaders tackle challenges and unlock their full potential.

BISCO is rooted in research from the Corporate Executive Research Board (CERB) that highlights how more than 50 per cent of newly appointed executives fail within the first 18 months because they don’t receive the coaching and support required to be successful in a new leadership role. This leadership turbulence and change can immensely impact an entire organization, creating low company morale, reduced productivity and retention issues.

“Setting people up for success means arming them with the right level of support so they can thrive. Through BISCO, I want to help people redefine the possible,” Ben says, adding, how his new company enables leaders and businesses to grow through transparency, trust and a shared understanding of clearly communicated goals.

And as with many elements in his life, Ben’s measure of success for his new business endeavour has evolved.

“I believe success is rooted in people and community. If we are motivated to keep people happy, fulfilled and engaged in their roles, they will go the extra mile to deliver on key success metrics, whether it’s profitability or schedule, for example,” he says, adding that it’s possible to achieve traditional success by focussing more on nurturing positive and supportive working cultures. “We do a better job when we feel valued and recognized for the work we are doing.”

This applies to him as well.