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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.
41st Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to be held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at the New York Hilton in New York City. For sponsorships and tables, call 305-243-4656.
Philanthropist Lois Pope Gives $10 Million to the University of Miami to establish a fund for neuroscience research in memory of her daughter and will focus on research into Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases and disorders
The gift will name the Lois Pope Laboratory Wing in Memory of Lorraine Pope in the Lois Pope LIFE Center.
We’re delighted to share some spectacular news with you. The Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial was named the number 1 rehabilitation hospital in Florida and South Florida by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026–2027 Best Hospitals rankings. The Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project was also ranked number 15 in the entire nation.
This extraordinary recognition is a testament, first and foremost, to the visionary generosity of Christine E. Lynn, whose transformative lead gift brought this world-class facility to life. It also reflects the unwavering commitment of the many doctors, therapists, researchers, donors and supporters whose belief in the center’s mission and vision made this remarkable achievement possible.
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.
Watch our Faculty Highlight video.
Director of Education and Outreach, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Understanding and treatment of secondary complications of SCI; community research partnership
Scientific Director, The Miami Project
Kinetic Concepts Distinguished Chair in Neurosurgery
Senior Associate Dean for Discovery Science
Co-Director, Institute for Neural Engineering
Professor, Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Biomedical Engineering and Cell Biology
Neuroprotection and Improved Recovery of Function following Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
Biomaterial Approaches for Spinal Cord Repair
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.
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been named the 2026 Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Health Care Heroes Award recipient in the Organization/Program category, a distinction that recognizes programs making an extraordinary impact on the South Florida healthcare community. Presented during the Chamber’s annual awards luncheon on May 14 at Jungle Island in Miami, the honor shines a spotlight on organizations whose work is transforming lives, advancing care, and strengthening the future of health in our region.
For The Miami Project, the award affirms more than four decades of pioneering research, collaboration, and determination in the fight to cure paralysis and improve quality of life for people living not only with traumatic spinal cord and brain injuries, but peripheral nerve injuries and other neurological diseases and disorders including Alzheimer’s.
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has developed a breakthrough nanodrug platform that may prove beneficial for rapid, targeted therapeutic hypothermia after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their work, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, demonstrates that intranasal nanovanilloids can lower brain temperature by 2.0° C to 3.6° C for up to three hours in pre-clinical models. The results offer a promising new approach for protecting the brain at the point of injury.
“This work exemplifies how nanotechnology and neuroscience principles can be applied together to create therapeutic solutions for critical medical problems that have the potential of saving human lives,” said Sylvia Daunert, Ph.D., Lucille P. Markey Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and director at the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute (BioNIUM), one of the study’s lead investigators.
Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, led by Robert W. Keane, Ph.D., and Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari, Ph.D., are studying the ways neuronal inflammasomes help the brain respond to stress, infection or injury. Their new review in Trends in Immunology explains how these structures protect the brain, but also how they can cause harm when they become overactive.
“Historically, neurons have been considered immunologically inert cells,” said Dr. Keane, a professor of physiology and biophysics at the Miller School. “However, it is now clear that neurons have an innate immune capacity that plays a critical role in normal brain health, defense and repair. Understanding the roles of neuronal inflammasomes provides new insights into neuroimmune crosstalk and identifies potential targets for modulating repair and inflammation in central nervous system injury and disease.”