Volunteers needed to participate in trial of experimental treatment
Researchers at NeuRA are seeking volunteer research participants to study the effects of 12 weeks of electrical spinal cord stimulation applied over the skin combined with walking training in paraplegics with incomplete spinal cord injury.
If you meet the criteria, you can register your interest at any time.
NOTE: While this trial is for incomplete spinal cord injury, with further funding, we aim to widen this research to trial a range of injuries, including complete injuries, and a range of bodily functions.
Project Spark aims to expand this research around Australia
Nine months later, NeuRA’s new Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre (SCIRC) was completed and the first test stimulation experiments commenced — an incredibly cathartic moment for those of us who have been working so long to bring the promise of this line of research to paralysed Australians.
The SCIRC contains an extensive exercise facility complete with gravity assisted walking track and treadmills along with other state-of-the art research equipment. This is surrounded by research labs, offices and wheelchair accessible loos big enough to host a party in.
The research is being led by Professor Simon Gandevia FAA FAHMS FRACP and by Professor Jane Butler PhD, with Dr Bonne Lee MBBS, FAFRAM, Dr Claire Boswell-Ruys PhD and Dr Euan McCaughey MEng, PhD, CEng, making up the all-star core team.
Most of the headline results have used implanted epidural stimulators (see panel, “What is neurostimulation”). However, the work at NeuRA is focussing on the ability of “transcutaneous” neurostimulation, which uses electrodes placed on the skin, to restore movement and autonomic function, such as bladder/bowel control, sexual function and cardiovascular stability. This method of applying the stimulation eliminates the high cost and risks of an operation and the long post-operative recovery. Thus, any successful treatment developed could be distributed much more quickly and more widely.
Despite these positive results, a lack of highly controlled clinical trials has prevented this technology from being converted into clinical practice. SpinalCure and NeuRA have partnered to address this need, leading to the SCIRC's flagship clinical trial, the eWalk trial, which commenced treating volunteers in March 2022. (See box) The trial will primarily look at restoring the ability to stand and take steps.
Funding permitting, other neurostimulation experiments are planned in addition to this formal clinical trial, focusing on the restoration of other functions that would greatly improve people's quality of life and independence.
The mobile research lab
The trial requires volunteers to commit to an hours laboratory training three times a week for 12 weeks. Requiring these disabled research participants to travel to NeuRA in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, would not only be an enormous burden to the volunteers but would be very expensive in terms of wheelchair taxi fees.
The beauty of this intervention is that it can be delivered to the participant – minimising the personal and cost burdens. NeuRA has designed a Mobile Therapy Gym to outfit a Mercedes-Benz VS30 Sprinter van. This van will be able to house all the equipment required to deliver a session of the transcutaneous spinal stimulation in conjunction with the locomotor training.
There is an exciting opportunity for a progressive company to sponsor this vehicle.
Please download this information document for more detail.
To find out more contact us on 02 9356 8321 or [email protected]