The Masonic Charitable Foundation has awarded a £65,000 grant to the London based Inspire Foundation to fund a research project which aims to improve the quality of life and independence of people with spinal cord injury. The research project will be led by young research scientist Sean Doherty who broke his neck in a mountain bike accident in 2008.

Sean is leading the NEUROMOD project which aims to investigate an alternative to pharmaceutical therapies to control body functions. The team hopes to develop wearable stimulation devices.

Trevor Koschalka, who attended the event on behalf of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge said:

“We are incredibly proud to support the NEUROMOD research project We hope that the grant will enable Sean and the rest of the team to successfully develop a wearable device to control bladder and bowel functions and improve the quality of life of Spinal Cord Injured people.”

Rory Steevenson, Director at INSPIRE Foundation, said: “One of my biggest worries with our research programme is whether or not we can afford to run projects as we receive no government funding. The Masonic Charitable Foundation grant has covered the remaining cost of NEUROMOD and will guarantee it can continue to full term. This is the best possible news and we are so grateful.”