Naomi Kleitman, PhD 
Senior Vice President of Grants and Research, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation 

Abstract
[coming soon...]

Bio
The Neilsen Foundation is the largest nonprofit funder of spinal cord injury (SCI) research, community, and educational grants. Naomi provides strategic guidance to the Neilsen Foundation and the field, and is a Fellow of the American Spinal Injury Association. From 2001–2012, Naomi administered the spinal and peripheral nerve injury portfolios at the NIH/NINDS, developing strategies to restore function with a focus on moving from animals to clinical studies through rigorous translational SCI research. Naomi has worked closely with FDA/CBER, CDMRP SCI Research Program, the Spinal Cord Outcomes Partnership Endeavor, and many other groups’ advisory committees. Earlier, at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, she cultivated rat and human Schwann cells for transplantation and served as the Scientific Liaison, encouraging interaction between clinicians, rehabilitation and basic researchers, as well as informing the public, patient groups, and the media about progress in SCI research.