Collaborative Spine Research Foundation Announces Board; Group Focuses on Advancing Science, Practice of Highest-quality Spine Care ROLLING MEADOWS and ROSEMONT, Ill., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Collaborative Spine Research Foundation (Collaborative Spine), a non-profit fundraising and grants administration organization co-created by the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) to advance the science and practice of the highest quality spine care through the collaborative funding and support of clinical research, has announced its board of directors. The Collaborative Spine board of directors consists of equal numbers of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, as well as a physician from a third medical specialty. The members are: Ray Baker, M.D. Charles Branch Jr., M.D., FAANS Zoher Ghogawala, M.D., FAANS Richard J. Haynes, M.D. James D. Heckman, M.D. Peter S. Rose, M.D. Christopher Shaffrey, M.D., FAANS Jeffrey C. Wang, M.D. The Collaborative Spine board of directors will oversee the establishment of grant and award criteria; the establishment and enforcement of conflict-of-interest standards; the recruitment of qualified, independent peer-review teams; and the development of strategies to secure financial support from spine-care stakeholders. "Our board is uniformly committed to a substantial expansion of opportunities for multidisciplinary clinical spine research," said James D. Heckman, M.D., board chair. We are neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, uniting as spine surgeons, to make more resources available for rigorous, hypothesis-based research and, ultimately, help those with spinal conditions live a better life. "This is an opportunity to truly raise the bar when it comes to advancing clinical spine research," said Charles Branch Jr., M.D., FAANS, board secretary-treasurer. By bringing together two specialties that share so much in common, we have the chance to build collaborative study groups, compare data, look at outcomes and make a significant impact when it comes to improving the lives of those dealing with spine-related disorders. The Collaborative Spine Research Foundation was formed in December 2011 to advance the science and practice of the highest quality spine care through the collaborative funding and support of clinical research. The organization initiated dialogue with industry leaders in January 2012. For more information about the co-founding organizations, please visit www.oref.org and www.aans.org/en/NREF.aspx. SOURCE Collaborative Spine Research Foundation