Wisconsin State Legislature representative Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, introduced a bill to devote $10 million per biennium to provide grants for spinal cord injury research in Wisconsin.
Mr. Anderson's proposal, co-authored by Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, aims to make Wisconsin the leading state for spinal cord injury research.
"Across the country, researchers have made incredible progress, from devices that can bypass damaged spinal connections to surgery techniques that reconnect nerve endings," Mr. Anderson said in a press release. "Unfortunately, spinal cord injury research in Wisconsin is spread too thin and is grossly underfunded."
In 2010, a drunk driver killed Mr. Anderson's parents and brother in a car crash in California. Mr. Anderson survived but was left paralyzed due to spinal cord injuries.
"In today's day and age, the question is no longer whether a cure is possible, but when will it be found. With determination and dedication, this discovery can happen right here in Wisconsin," Mr. Anderson added.