The Challenge
More than 20,000 Australians live with spinal cord injury (SCI), with an estimated lifetime cost of $75.4 billion. Traditionally, it was believed that a damaged spinal cord could not be repaired. Project Spark aims to challenge this by delivering a potential treatment option that can be rolled out easily and inexpensively across Australia.
Project Overview
Project Spark encompasses clinical trials (eWALK 1, Get a Grip, eWALK 2) and other clinical research testing neurostimulation as an experimental therapy for SCI. These trials use non-invasive neurostimulation via electrodes placed on the skin to enhance spinal cord function by sending electrical pulses into the undamaged nerves around the injury, facilitating communication between the brain and body.
- eWALK 1: Aims to restore walking ability in incomplete paraplegics.
- Get a Grip: Aims to improve hand, arm, and respiratory function in people with quadriplegia.
- eWALK 2: An expanded trial treating 142 incomplete quadriplegics and paraplegics, commencing mid-2024.
Project Outcomes
The key outcomes of Project Spark are to start and refine a rigorous data set with respect to neurostimulation to determine its potential as a new treatment option for SCI. Should trial results support it the next step will be to secure regulatory approval from the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) to enable a widespread roll-out of the treatment to SCI patients nationally.
Measuring Impact
Hearts & Minds measures its impact across six core categories as developed by the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes. Key highlights include:
Advancing Knowledge
- Collaborations: Partnerships with insurance commissions, NSW Health, the Australian Federal Government, and various SCI organisations. Established and executed our inaugural Cure Summit, bringing current collaborating research groups together at NeuRA to discuss progress and priorities.
- Publications: Members of the research team have had their research published in a number of well-regarded medical research journals. eWalk 1 results paper has been submitted to a journal for peer review.
- Presentations: Delivered a total of eight presentations at local and global SCI research conferences, including the ISCoS international conference.
- Community engagement: Engaged the community through school and public events and fundraisers, media appearances, and project launches, generating widespread awareness including prime news coverage, leading to over 25 enquiries to join Perth’s clinical trials.
Research Capacity Building
- Fellowships: SpinalCure introduced the I. Peter Farell SpinalCure Fellowship to support an outstanding early/mid-career researcher in conducting innovative research aimed at finding a cure for SCI. This was awarded to Ramon Martinez-Marmol at the Queensland Brain Institute to research a microscopic nematode worm’s ability to repair its spinal cord after damage, and potential human applications.
- Support and mentorship: The research team includes two PhD students and one Honours student. In the wider Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre (SCIRC) at NeuRA, there are three PhD students and one Honours student.
Health Impacts
- eWALK: The first of the Project Spark neurostimulation trials has concluded with 48 volunteer paraplegic participants completing the 12 week trial. Lead scientists analysed the trial data and submitted a paper for peer review, with public results expected late 2025. Most participants showed mobili ty improvements, averaging a 2-point gain on the WISCI-II 20-point scale (a specific scale developed for spinal cord injuries), reflecting greater independence and functional ability.
- eWALK2: The eWALK2 study uses a more conventional type of stimulation, which may better activate sensory nerve pathways compared to the high-frequency stimulation used in eWALK1. It includes participants with cervical and thoracic injuries (quadriplegics and paraplegics) and those with less severe injuries and greater walking ability.
- Get a Grip: This study involves participants with cervical injuries only (quadriplegics) and investigates different spinal circuits in the upper limb. It focuses on the effects of stimulation combined with upper limb therapy, with primary outcomes being breathing and arm and hand function. These are the most desired functional improvements by people living with quadriplegia.
Economic Impacts
- Cost savings: Reducing healthcare costs and delivering significant savings to the economy. A key finding of the report "Spinal Cord Injuries in Australia – The case for investing in new treatments" hows that a 10% reversal of paralysis could deliver $3.5 billion in cost savings, with the potential to be as high as $10.3 billion.
- Strong support: Additional funding through fundraisers, philanthropists, foundations, ambassador activities (Sandra Sully introducing her networks, winning $100,000 from Deal or No Deal) and community ambassador fundraisers (Ride with Richter school fundraiser). Strong political support and commitment by a Senator, Minister and shadow Minister, with plans to develop these relationships to unlock further support and national collaborations.
Project Spark aims to revolutionise SCI treatment through neurostimulation, offering hope for recovery and improved quality of life for SCI patients.
Funding support from Hearts and Minds Investments, as nominated by Core Fund Manager, Caledonia.
This content was last updated in August 2025, for further information, visit SpinalCure Australia.
