At the Melbourne launch, Acting Premier John Thwaites said the money would also be used for new equipment in ambulances, training staff on new procedures in trauma response and spinal restoration research. John Lenders, Minister for the TAC, said of the 700 Victorians sustaining spinal and brain injuries each year, most occurred through road injuries. Professor Doug Brown from the Austin Hospital said there was a realistic chance that research could lead to those in wheelchairs walking again. "It's not just a dream but something that might happen," he said.