UBC ICORD

What UBC ICORD does

UBC ICORD (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries) is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on spinal cord injury (SCI), founded in 1995 and located in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. It operates as a joint initiative of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, with a mission to make SCI preventable, livable, and curable. The centre houses Principal Investigators, Investigators, and Associate Members spanning neuroscience, engineering, kinesiology, medicine, and rehabilitation sciences, supported by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff.

ICORD's programmatic surface consists of four interconnected assets: the core research centre conducting preclinical and clinical SCI studies; the Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC), an adapted fitness facility serving over 500 SCI community members and providing practical training to more than 60 UBC kinesiology students per term; the seed2STEM paid summer research program for Indigenous high school students in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna; and SCIRE (Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence), a peer-reviewed evidence-synthesis resource for clinicians and consumers. Technical infrastructure includes MRI, electrophysiology labs, locomotion robotics (Lokomat, Ekso exoskeletons), Contact Heat Evoked Potential stimulation (CHEPs), and a Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Environment built on Oculus Rift and Leap Motion.

The operating model is that of a non-profit research centre funded primarily through peer-reviewed grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, NSERC, and other national/provincial agencies, supplemented by donations administered through the University of British Columbia and targeted allocations for stem cell and regenerative medicine research. There is no commercial pricing for research participation; donor support flows toward general research, seed2STEM, and PARC equipment. Distribution of findings occurs through academic publications, the SCInfo Blog, social channels, the Annual Research Meeting, and the SCIRE knowledge-translation platform.

Name

UBC ICORD

Legal name

International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries

Website

https://icord.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UBC ICORD is a Vancouver-based interdisciplinary research centre within the UBC Faculty of Medicine that conducts spinal cord injury research, translation, and community programs, serving SCI patients, clinicians, students, and Indigenous youth through its labs, PARC fitness centre, seed2STEM program, and SCIRE evidence resource.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neural & Spinal Cord Regeneration (HLAAAGAI), Spine (Orthopedic Spine) (HLAKALAE)

Keywords

• Spinal cord injury research
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Clinical trials research
• Rehabilitation engineering
• Biomedical research centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: ICORD receives funding through peer-reviewed grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and other national and provincial funding agencies. Principal investigators hold individual research grants as PI or co-PI.
2. Donations: The centre accepts donations to support ICORD research programs, summer research programs for Indigenous youth (seed2STEM), and the Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC). Tax receipts issued by University of British Columbia.
3. Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Funding: Specific funding allocations for stem cell and regenerative medicine research at UBC scientists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ICORD is an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to spinal cord injury research, conducting preclinical and clinical studies on SCI prevention, functional recovery, and rehabilitation. It operates state-of-the-art laboratories (MRI, electrophysiology, locomotion robotics) and delivers the PARC adapted fitness program for SCI community members, the seed2STEM outreach program for Indigenous youth, and the SCIRE evidence resource for clinicians.

Product overview

ICORD (International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries) is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on spinal cord injury research. The organization operates as a unified research platform comprising several interconnected programs: the core ICORD research centre itself dedicated to SCI prevention and recovery; the Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC) providing adapted exercise facilities and programs for the SCI community; the seed2STEM initiative offering Indigenous youth pathways into STEM research; and SCIRE (Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence), a knowledge translation resource synthesizing research for clinicians and consumers. Together these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting SCI research, community engagement, education, and evidence-based practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PARC (Physical Activity Research Centre): The Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC) is a fitness centre with adapted exercise equipment for people with SCI, offering group classes, personalized training, and serving over 500 local SCI community members.
• SCInfo Blog
• SCIRE (Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence)
• seed2STEM

Products and services

• ICORD Research Centre Interdisciplinary research centre focused on spinal cord injury prevention, functional recovery, and improved quality of life. Houses preclinical and clinical labs (MRI, electrophysiology, locomotion robotics) and develops therapeutic strategies for SCI. Part of UBC Faculty of Medicine and VCH Research Institute.
• Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre (PARC) Community fitness centre with adapted exercise equipment for people with spinal cord injury, offering drop-in opportunities, group exercise classes, and personalized training for over 500 SCI community members.
• seed2STEM Summer research program providing paid 6-week STEM research placements for Indigenous high school students (Grade 9-12) in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna, aimed at increasing Indigenous participation in STEM fields.
• SCIRE (Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence) Comprehensive online evidence-resource synthesizing spinal cord injury rehabilitation research for health professionals, developed through collaboration between scientists, clinicians, and consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• PARC serves over 500 SCI community members with adapted exercise facilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• UBC Faculty of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICORD is an interdisciplinary research centre of the UBC Faculty of Medicine and VCH Research Institute. UBC provides academic infrastructure, faculty appointments, and institutional support for ICORD researchers.
• Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICORD is co-sponsored by VCH Research Institute, providing clinical research infrastructure and integration with Vancouver General Hospital.
• Rick Hansen FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Community SCI Resource Centre initiative alongside ICORD and Spinal Cord Injury BC. Supports SCI awareness and research translation initiatives.
• Spinal Cord Injury BCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Community SCI Resource Centre, combining ICORD's research expertise with SCI BC's community outreach capabilities.
• School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME), UBCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ICORD on the seed2STEM program for Indigenous youth and shares research infrastructure for biomedical engineering research.
• BC's Gynecologic Cancer InitiativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the seed2STEM Indigenous youth research program alongside ICORD and SBME.
• Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. John Kramer is a member of this centre, facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration between brain and spinal cord injury research.
• University Hospital Balgrist (Zurich, Switzerland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kramer maintains collaborations with colleagues at University Hospital Balgrist for spinal cord injury research exchange and collaborative studies.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dr. Victoria Claydon's lab at SFU for hot tub/passive heating research studies. Also collaborates on vestibular system research.
• Lokomat/Balog GristsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAdvanced robotic gait training system used for locomotor training research at ICORD.
• Shepherd Center (Atlanta, USA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kramer completed postdoctoral fellowship at the Shepherd Center's Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory and maintains research connections.
• Canwheel TeammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research team of 14 investigators from 6 universities across Canada focused on enhancing mobility of older adult wheelchair users. Includes ICORD researchers Dr. William Miller and Dr. Bonnie Sawatzky.
• BCIT MAKE+ Applied ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jaimie Borisoff is Director of MAKE+ Applied Research at BCIT, facilitating technology transfer and commercialization of rehabilitation technologies.
• UBC James Hogg Research Centre (iCAPTURE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Christopher West has shared access to state-of-the-art echocardiography equipment through this partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• University Hospital Balgrist: Swiss university hospital specializing in SCI musculoskeletal medicine, with the Spinal Cord Injury Center in Uniklinik Balgrist. Directly comparable to ICORD with international collaborations maintained by Dr. John Kramer for SCI research exchange and clinical studies.
• Shepherd Center: Atlanta-based private non-profit hospital specializing in SCI rehabilitation and research including the Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory. Directly comparable to ICORD for SCI clinical research, rehabilitation innovation, and investigator training; Dr. John Kramer completed postdoctoral fellowship there.
• Kessler Foundation: New Jersey-based non-profit conducting rehabilitation research including SCI mobility, neuroplasticity, and assistive technology. Comparable to ICORD for its interdisciplinary SCI research portfolio, investigator training, and knowledge translation into clinical practice.
• The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis: University of Miami-based research centre focused on spinal cord injury and paralysis research, translational therapies, and clinical trials. Directly comparable to ICORD as a leading interdisciplinary SCI research centre with bench-to-bedside focus and large investigator base.
• Reeve Foundation Research Consortium: U.S. non-profit foundation funding and coordinating SCI research across multiple academic institutions. Directly comparable to ICORD's translational research mission and SCI community engagement, with parallel focus on accelerating cures and improving quality of life for people with SCI.
• Kennedy Krieger Institute: Johns Hopkins-affiliated non-profit research and rehabilitation institution with strong SCI/rehabilitation research portfolio. Comparable to ICORD for combining neuroscience research with rehabilitation engineering and clinical translation.
• Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital: University of Utah-affiliated rehabilitation hospital dedicated to SCI research and clinical care. Directly comparable to ICORD as a major U.S. SCI research and rehabilitation hub with both clinical trials and community integration programs.
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab: Chicago-based research hospital focused on physical medicine and rehabilitation, with significant SCI research, including robotics, exoskeletons, and translational rehabilitation science. Comparable to ICORD for its interdisciplinary rehab research model and use of advanced rehabilitation technologies like Lokomat robotics.

Regional players

• Rick Hansen Foundation: Canadian foundation dedicated to SCI awareness, accessibility, and research translation. A core strategic partner of ICORD in the Community SCI Resource Centre initiative, with comparable focus on SCI community impact and research dissemination in Canada.
• Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC): British Columbia-based non-profit providing community services and peer support to people with SCI. Comparable to ICORD as a core partner in the Community SCI Resource Centre, combining research expertise with community outreach for the BC SCI population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/icord_sci
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICORD.SCI
• Instagraminstagram.com/icord_sci/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubc-icord

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UBC ICORD