Ageing, Functioning Epidemiology and Implementation

A world in which people with spinal cord injuries receive the rehabilitation and long-term care they need to maintain optimal levels of functioning, independence and autonomy for as long as possible as they age.

Our work sits at the interface of research, policy, and practice. We conduct high-quality studies in Switzerland, across Europe, and internationally, learning from the case of SCI while addressing broader questions of ageing with disability. Four interconnected research streams shape our agenda:

• Healthy Ageing & Rehabilitation, to ensure that people with SCI receive appropriate care and support across the life course
• Functioning Epidemiology, to establish functioning as a core health indicator, complementing mortality and morbidity data
• Implementation Science, to accelerate the uptake of scientific evidence into policy and practice
• Disability Policy, to foster participation and inclusion of persons with SCI

Our interdisciplinary research group brings together expertise spanning healthy ageing, epidemiology, biostatistics, rehabilitation, health policy, nursing, and psychology. Our research is aligned with the Swiss National SCI Strategy 2025–2033 and aims to contribute to meaningful improvements in the lives of persons with SCI.

The group is led by Prof. Sabariego (Healthy Ageing and Rehabilitation) and Ass. Prof. Martinez de la Torre (Functioning Epidemiology), who are both bridge professorships between SPF and the University of Lucerne. Through long-standing participation in WHO and European projects, we have built a collaboration network spanning 29 universities, 9 research institutions, and 13 private organisations and civil society partners. Prof. Sabariego also directs the Center for Rehabilitation in Global Health Systems, a WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Lucerne.