A message from the director
Concerns have recently been raised with regards the legitimacy of the Health Surveys hosted by Myelopathy.org and I would like to address these directly.
As you are only too aware, Myelopathy is a condition which faces a number of significant challenges including lifelong disability, widespread misunderstanding and under-recognition, and a lack of clear information or support. Myelopathy.org was founded to address these issues and become a rallying point for change.
We see research as an important part of delivering change and support projects that can advance our understanding. As the largest ever Myelopathy community, your shared experiences have a lot to offer researchers, and therefore health surveys have been a prominent part of our research arm. So far, more than 2000 people have shared their experiences, making these some of the largest ever studies in Myelopathy. That data is still being processed, and we look forward to seeing the results soon, but this in itself is a testament to what we can achieve together.
As an organisation we recognise the power of this community and are committed to its responsible management. In this respect, all research associations and projects have been and are expected to meet our ethical standards. This includes adhering to our code of conduct, providing appropriate regulatory approval and practicing safe management of personal data. All proposed surveys are first piloted and approved internally.
Looking through our research section today, I can see that this oversight is not as explicit as it should be, and we will be introducing clearer documentation to correct this.
We are a very young organisation, developing and learning as we go along but in a short time we have made great in roads; I remember when we first launched, canine myelopathy was the prominent feature of google search results, but now our myelopathy has come to the forefront.
There is still a long way to go, but it will be together that we can drive change and not as individuals. The internet has provided a platform for us to come together, but we must remember that it can also have the potential to divide us: both as an organisation and as individual members we all must act responsibly. In that regard, if you feel any of our actions or the actions of our members questionable, please get in touch directly.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Benjamin Davies
Director Myelopathy.org
As you are only too aware, Myelopathy is a condition which faces a number of significant challenges including lifelong disability, widespread misunderstanding and under-recognition, and a lack of clear information or support. Myelopathy.org was founded to address these issues and become a rallying point for change.
We see research as an important part of delivering change and support projects that can advance our understanding. As the largest ever Myelopathy community, your shared experiences have a lot to offer researchers, and therefore health surveys have been a prominent part of our research arm. So far, more than 2000 people have shared their experiences, making these some of the largest ever studies in Myelopathy. That data is still being processed, and we look forward to seeing the results soon, but this in itself is a testament to what we can achieve together.
As an organisation we recognise the power of this community and are committed to its responsible management. In this respect, all research associations and projects have been and are expected to meet our ethical standards. This includes adhering to our code of conduct, providing appropriate regulatory approval and practicing safe management of personal data. All proposed surveys are first piloted and approved internally.
Looking through our research section today, I can see that this oversight is not as explicit as it should be, and we will be introducing clearer documentation to correct this.
We are a very young organisation, developing and learning as we go along but in a short time we have made great in roads; I remember when we first launched, canine myelopathy was the prominent feature of google search results, but now our myelopathy has come to the forefront.
There is still a long way to go, but it will be together that we can drive change and not as individuals. The internet has provided a platform for us to come together, but we must remember that it can also have the potential to divide us: both as an organisation and as individual members we all must act responsibly. In that regard, if you feel any of our actions or the actions of our members questionable, please get in touch directly.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Benjamin Davies
Director Myelopathy.org