Dr. Andrew Chan Wins Cervical Spine Research Society’s 21st Century Grant Award

July 31, 2023

Last week, the Cervical Spine Research Society announced its 2023 Grant Winners, including Columbia Neurosurgery’s Dr. Andrew Chan. Dr. Chan is the principal investigator for the grant titled, “Surgical Approaches for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Impact of Radiographic Characteristics on Pain,

Disability, Functional Status, and Quality of Life via an Analysis of the Quality Outcomes Database.” This research aims to understand the relationship between radiographic images and patient outcomes following surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is caused by spondylosis or age-related degeneration and is one the most common spinal disorders in Americans over 55 years of age. 

Cervical Spine Research Society is “a multidisciplinary organization of individuals interested in clinical and research problems of the cervical spine. Its purpose is to provide a forum for the exchange and development of ideas and philosophy regarding diagnosing and treating cervical spine injury and disease. The organization values collegial interaction and strong scientific principles.” All applications undergo a rigorous peer review process by the CSRS Research Committee, and the selection is always highly competitive. Many high-quality proposals are received each year – the Research Committee thoroughly vetted and reviewed every proposal. The grant aims to fund the highest quality applications most likely to impact cervical spine research. With that in mind, Dr. Chan and the QOD Study Group team received the maximum award of $150,000 for the 21st Century Grant.

Dr. Chan continues leveraging years of data from the Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) to gain valuable insights into patient outcomes. Earlier this year, Dr. Andrew Chan also won “Best Clinical Research Paper” at 2023’s International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST) for his investigations into the optimal surgical approach for lumbar spondylolisthesis.