There are many different groups focusing on several aspects of spinal cord injury research. In general, research focuses on developing therapies that protect the spinal cord cells from the injury process (cellular protection), improving rehabilitation and recovery of function by increasing plasticity (connections), promoting repair and regeneration of damaged spinal cord tissue, understanding the causes and developing treatments for secondary complications such as pain, spasticity, or autonomic dysreflexia. Although the protective strategies typically focus on the newly injured, several other lines of research will also be of great benefit to those who have been injured longer.