Column of Hope
Chiari and Syringomyelia Research Foundation - Working toward a life without pain.
Our Mission: Searching for better understanding, treatments, and cures for Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury and related conditions.
Research Grant Awarded - August 27, 2025
Column of Hope is pleased to announce that Phase 1 of our efforts to define the technical outcomes required to achieve successful Chiari surgery is underway with a contract executed last week!
A US $94,000 grant has been awarded to Dr. Marcus Stoodley’s team at Macquarie University and Neuroscience Research Australia in Sydney.
After 18 years of working with, and funding, basic scientific research with this team, they have taken the knowledge gained in the lab and refined their techniques in the operating room. These refinements have... Read More
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A normal brain and spinal cord.
Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia.
What is Chiari Malformation?
Chiari I malformation is when the back of the skull is abnormally small. When this happens there is not enough room for the brain to fit in the skull properly and part of the brain is forced out of the skull into the spinal cord. Learn more
What is Syringomyelia?
Syringomyelia is a neurological disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms in the spinal cord. The cyst is called a syrinx and can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord. Learn more
What is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain occurs when there is a malfunction in the part of the nervous system that tells the brain that tissue is injured. While there may be no injury to the tissue where the pain exists, the nervous system tells the brain that there is damage, causing pain. Learn more