1941-2022
The Miami Project and Buoniconti Fund are saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend, champion and longtime Buoniconti Fund Board member Paul DiMare. His larger than life presence and impact leave a legacy that will endure forever. His dedication and commitment to help cure paralysis was monumental. Our deepest condolences to Swanee and the entire DiMare family.
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis was co-founded by Barth A. Green, M.D., world -renowned neurosurgeon, and Nick Buoniconti, NFL Hall of Fame linebacker after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game.
Research at The Miami Project has changed the landscape of knowledge and therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.
Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992. The Buoniconti Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise funds and awareness to help The Miami Project achieve its primary focus; to repair and restore function to the injured and diseased nervous system, thereby improving the quality of life to patients throughout the world.
Director of Education and Research
Interview With David McMillan, Ph.D.
The Miami Project presents Meet the Researcher, a periodic video series where each video introduces a new researcher. We will hear from the brilliant up and coming scientists and researchers that are part of The Miami Project’s dynamic international team.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Understanding the signaling pathways that regulate axon growth, and identifying components of those pathways that can be targeted with drugs to induce robust axon regeneration
Scientific Director
Neuroprotection and Improved Recovery of Function following Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
Research Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuroscience Program, High Content Screening and Functional Genomics of the Nervous System
Neurotrauma-related Neuropathic Pain Phenotypes and Biomarkers; Standards for Pain Assessment, Taxonomy and Classification after Spinal Cord Injury
PARALYSIS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE.
Watch our stories of hope and inspiration from a few of our researchers and participants as they live and fight paralysis.
Dr. Deena Cilien, DPT, PT, is a graduate of the University of Miami's top-ranked clinical physical therapy program and currently works as one of our resident neuro physical therapists, specializing in spinal cord injury.
I chose to participate because I think it's pretty neat being part of finding a cure for something that is so big and affects so many lives.
I first fell in love with The Miami Project in 1986, while volunteering as one of the first research participants. I continue to return to participate in studies.
I suffered a spinal cord injury in 1983. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis really made a difference in my life.
Jerrod, was paralyzed in a car accident on his way to work a few years ago. He was left a T-12 paraplegic as a result of the incident.
Faces of Paralysis subject, Jazzmin, was diagnosed as a teenager with Neuromyelitis optica which occurs when immune system cells and antibodies attack the optic nerves and the spinal cord.
Richard was paralyzed as a result of a motorcycle accident on the way home that left him with a C-2 incomplete injury.
As part of June's recovery process at The Miami Project, she has been participating in research training programs to improve outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injury.
Daniel J. Liebl, Ph.D. was recently awarded a $2.6 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) entitled Stabilizing the tripartite synaptic complex following TBI. This award allows for continuation of a collaborative project between scientists at The Miami Project, Department of Neurological Surgery, and Department of Human Genetics and Genomics.
The project will bring to fruition Dr. Liebl’s previous work that identified specific cells, receptors, and molecules—potential therapeutic targets—involved in synaptic loss after traumatic brain injury. With the players and the process identified, the team will now develop therapeutics to target synaptic loss after neurotrauma.
About 90% of men who suffer a spinal cord injury cannot conceive through sexual intercourse, so they must use other methods to extract sperm. That’s where the Male Fertility Research Program comes in.
Founded by the Miami Project’s late Scientific Director, Dr. Richard Bunge, and expanded by SCI fertility pioneer Dr. Nancy Brackett and her colleague Dr. Charles Lynne, the program has established itself as the preeminent research site for SCI fertility.
When the Miami Project’s team members started their research, little was known about the fertility in men with SCI. There was so little research in the field that they had limited data and few procedures to learn from. Now led by Dr. Ibrahim, the program has helped more than 300 men father children.