BRITISH SCOLIOSIS RESEARCH FOUNDATION - BSRF

• The BSRF also holds an internationally acclaimed symposium, known as the ‘Zorab Symposium’,
to spread the knowledge gained from research. It is anticipated that the 12th Zorab Symposium will
be held in England in 2010.
• The BSRF has recently partnered with The Royal College of Surgeons of England to fund a
one-year Surgical Research Fellowship. The Fellowship will be advertised once a year for the next
three years and will attract young surgeons wishing to develop their research and surgical skills into
scoliosis.
• The BSRF’s current main project is to set up the first National Scoliosis Register of patients with
scoliosis, for which £250 000 have already been secured. The purpose of the Register will be to
facilitate study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a view to establishing the cause or causes of
the condition, and to provide better understanding of scoliosis and its management.
3 - Vision and mission
• The BSRF’s vision is to have, within 10 years, contributed to discovering the cause of
idiopathic scoliosis to improve quality of life for people with all types of scoliosis.
• The organisation’s mission is therefore to stimulate and finance high-quality research into:
- The causation of, prevention of, and potential cures for idiopathic scoliosis.
- The assessment of new forms of treatment – surgical and otherwise.
- The encouragement of basic scientific research that might add to knowledge of the changes in
idiopathic scoliosis.
- The support of research by young surgeons to stimulate an interest in scoliosis in newly qualified
doctors.
4 - Main objectives:
(a) To promote the case for new research into scoliosis aetiology to the scientific community in the
Centres of Excellence.
(b) To set up and maintain a scoliosis patient database available to all parties interested in the field.
(c)To promote the assessment of operative techniques and other treatments and their short-term and
long-term outcomes.
(d) To support, in cooperation with sister organisations, such as the National Scoliosis Foundation
and the Cotrel Foundation, the undertaking, publication and discussion of new research into the
aetiology of scoliosis.
(e) To provide a regular forum for bringing together the leading international scoliosis researchers for
improving understanding and stimulating new research.
5 - The BSRF wishes to fund research in the following areas:
(a) The aetiology of scoliosis (to include genetics, endocrinology, neurology, biomechanics and other
related topics).
(b) The prevention, management and treatment of scoliosis (assessment of new treatments, clinical
trials and long-term outcomes).
(c) Scoliosis in related conditions such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
(d) The respiratory and cardiovascular aspects of scoliosis.
(e) The neurophysiological aspects of spinal deformities.
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