Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council

 

The State of Minnesota established the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury (SCI-TBI) Research Grant Program on July 1, 2015, in accordance with Minnesota 2015 Session Law, Chapter 69. This statute directed the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) Commissioner to establish a grant program for institutions in Minnesota to conduct research that would lead to new and innovative treatments and rehabilitative efforts for the functional improvement of people with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

The 2015 statute language that established the grant program also required the creation of  the Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council. The Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education, in consultation with the Advisory Council, has the responsibility of awarding the SCI-TBI grants and developing the program.

In 2015, an initial 12-member Advisory Council was set up using the Open Appointments process of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office. In 2017, the statute language was updated to include two new seats: 1) Veteran with a Traumatic Brain Injury, and 2) Physician Specializing in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury. Below is a list of the current sitting council.

 

One member representing the University of Minnesota Medical School
Dr. David Titus
Exp. 8/31/2025
adaik023@umn.edu

 

One member representing Mayo Medical School/Clinic
Dr. Peter Grahn                               
Exp. 8/31/2025
Grahn.Peter@mayo.edu

 

One member representing Courage Kenney Rehabilitation Center
Dr. Katy O'Brien
Exp. 8/31/2026
katy.obrien@allina.com

 

One member representing Hennepin County Medical Center
Dr. Matthew Puderbaugh
Exp. 8/31/2026
matthew.puderbaugh@hcmed.org

 

One member who is a neurosurgeon
Dr. Andrew W. Grande
Exp. 8/31/2026
grande@umn.edu

 

One member who has a spinal cord injury
Robert Wudlick
Exp. 8/31/2026
rwudlick@gmail.com

  

One member who is a family member of a person with a spinal cord injury
Matthew Rodreick, Chair
Exp. 8/31/2026
matthewrodreick@unite2fightparalysis.org

 

One member who has a traumatic brain injury
OPEN SEAT
 

One member who is a veteran with a spinal cord injury
OPEN SEAT

One member who is a veteran with a traumatic brain injury
OPEN SEAT

One member who Is a family member of a person with a traumatic brain injury
OPEN SEAT

 

One member who is a physician specializing in the treatment of spinal cord injury
Dr. Ann Parr
Exp. 8/31/2025
amparr@umn.edu

 

One member representing Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Dr. Mark Gormley     
Exp. 8/31/2025
mgormley@gillettechildrens.com

 

One member who is a physician specializing in the treatment of traumatic brain injury
Dr. Uzma Samadani
Exp. 8/31/2025
Uzma@Samadani.com