Miami happens to have ideal social and geographic conditions for people living with profound
mobility impairment, making us a lighthouse for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This makes
possible the Miller School of Medicine’s Center of Excellence called The Miami Project to Cure
Paralysis, the world’s most comprehensive academic medical center where >30 faculty are
using the full stack of research to understand, manage, and eventually cure paralysis. In this
talk, David McMillan will outline his journey to The Miami Project, including his experience
conducting clinical trials via his doctoral dissertation work on dietary fat metabolism under the
supervision of Drs. Kevin Jacobs and Mark Nash. McMillan will also discuss his current
experience as a Miami Project faculty and director of outreach, focusing on a high-level view of
activities across many research domains and our vision for the future of paralysis research here
at the University of Miami.