Auður Guðjónsdóttir is a surgical nurse and global advocate for spinal cord injury research. After her daughter suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 1989, she dedicated her life to advancing treatment, raising awareness, and influencing global health policies.

She founded the Icelandic Spinal Cord Injury Institute (ISCI) in 2007, leading efforts to establish a research database, organize international conferences, and push for policy changes. Her advocacy has contributed to spinal cord injury recognition in Nordic health policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and WHO’s Decade of Action for Neurological Disorders (2022–2031).

A recipient of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon (2002) and Woman of the Year (2001), Auður remains committed to driving global collaboration toward finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.