Project Spark
Project Spark is bringing world-class scientific rigour to one of the most promising breakthroughs in spinal cord injury (SCI) research: non-invasive neurostimulation.
While early international studies have shown remarkable improvements in movement and function, these findings still lack the large-scale, high-quality clinical trials needed to make them a standard part of SCI treatment.
Project Spark is here to change that.
We’re leading the charge with robust, well-designed research that will validate, refine, and accelerate these cutting-edge therapies—so they can one day become available to everyone who could benefit.
This is more than research. It’s a path toward real, life-changing outcomes.
WHAT IS NEUROSTIMULATION?
Neurostimulation is using electricity to stimulate the spinal cord. Traditionally we’ve only been able to stimulate the muscles directly. Now we can hone into the nerves that control the muscles directly from the spinal cord itself. It’s a simple idea but it has potentially revolutionary results.
Neurostimulation is unique. No other experimental therapy has seen an equivalent level of meaningful return of feeling and function in trial participants, and no other has the potential to be ready for mainstream distribution in the short term.
BE PART OF PROJECT SPARK
Find out more about our
eWALK (recruitment closed)
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Standing/walking
WHO: Incomplete paralegics
WHERE: Sydney, Melbourne, Glasgow, Chicago, Toledo (Spain)
WHEN: Recruitment closed
Team lead: Profs Simon Gandevia and Jane Butler
Institution: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation
Primary target: Standing/walking
Eligibility:
- Incomplete paraplegics
- Can take a step with or without assistance but can’t walk >10m
- Motor level T1–T11
- more than1 year post injury
Duration: 12 weeks, 3 visits/week
Enrolling: Recruitment complete
Get a Grip
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Arms, hands and breathing
WHO: Quadriplegics
WHERE: Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland
WHEN: May 2023
Team lead: Profs Simon Gandevia and Jane Butler
Institution: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation
Primary targets: Upper limb and respiratory function
Eligibility:
- Quadriplegics both complete an incomplete
- At least 1 year post injury
Duration: 6 weeks, 3 visits/week
Enrolling: Up to 96 volunteers. Enrolling now.
The Get a Grip study is a Bayesian Optimised Phase II (BOP) trial comparing two kinds of biphasic neurostimulation. Volunteers will be treated at select SCIA’s NeuroMoves clinics and other partner clinics in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Wollongong, Canberra and Auckland (NZ). Additional trial sites are likely in 2025/26.
More info: research@spinalcure.org.au
The RRULI trial
WHAT: Neurostimulation and Acute Intermittent Hypoxia
FOR: Arms, hands and breathing
WHO: Quadriplegics
WHERE: Multiple centres inc Melbourne and Sydney
WHEN: 2024
Team lead: Prof David Berlowitz
Institution: University of Melbourne
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation, Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and Exercise therapy.
Primary targets: Upper limb and respiratory function
Eligibility:
- Incomplete quadriplegia
- At least 1 year post injury
Duration: TBC
Enrolling: Enrolling now.
Number of volunteers needed: 96
More info: research@spinalcure.org.au
Media summary: Exercise for people with longstanding spinal cord injury makes weak muscles stronger, but weakness returns when exercise training stops. We have early evidence that both electrical stimulation of the spinal cord through the skin, and breathing very short bursts of low oxygen levels, when added to exercise training, may produce longer lasting benefits. This trial will determine which combinations of these treatments shows the most promise.
Register for NeuRA researcheWALK 2
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Walking
WHO: Incomplete cervical or thoracic SCI
WHERE: Multiple trial Australia and international trial sites.
WHEN: Recruiting now
Team lead: Prof Jane Butler
Institution: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation or sham stimulation
Primary target: Standing/walking
Eligibility:
- Incomplete paraplegics and quadriplegics
- At least 1 year post injury
- Aged 16 years or older at the time of consent and able to give informed consent
- Diagnosed with a spinal cord injury between the levels of C2 and T12
- Willing and able to participate in a training program three times a week, for 12 weeks
- Able to take at least two steps with no harnessed body weight support. The steps may be completed with assistance (physically swinging the leg through by the therapist is not allowed), braces, gait aids or within parallel bars
- Have reflex responses in at least one anterior thigh muscle when stimulated with spinal stimulation
- Have a minimal amount of voluntarily activity in one or more leg muscles
Duration: 12 weeks, 3 visits/week
Enrolling: 88 volunteers starting 2024
More info: research@spinalcure.org.au
Donate and help us spark a revolution Join us in making the unbelievable, believable. Every day, someone in Australia experiences a spinal cord injury. By supporting SpinalCure today, you make critical trials possible — bringing us closer to treatments that could transform lives.
Alex Richter – Community Ambassador“Before I heard about Project Spark,
I believed that my condition was incurable and permanent – but now I have hope
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