Spinal cord injury research

Spinal cord injuries are life-altering and often result in permanent loss of sensory, motor and autonomic functions.

Our research team is headed by internationally recognised experts who work collaboratively to advance therapies that improve functional recovery and quality of life.

We are generously supported with major funding awarded from the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust through the CatWalk Cure Programme, as well as by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, and international partners including the US Department of Defense and Wings for Life.

Led by Professor Darren Svirskis, the CatWalk Cure Programme was established in 2024 to develop treatments that improve functions lost after spinal cord injury.

Our researchers collaborate across a variety of disciplines and use experimental models of spinal cord injury to develop and evaluate therapies, including examining effects on motor function, sensation and bladder function. 

Our research themes include:

We are using an ultrathin implant designed to sit directly on the surface of the spinal cord to deliver precisely controlled electric fields through injured tissue. As a therapeutic strategy, applying electric fields aims to support the repair of injured spinal tissue and help restore lost function. These fields may guide regenerating axons toward their original targets. We are also testing different ‘doses’ and patterns of electric field treatment to find the most effective recipe for repair. 

Researchers: Lead – Bruce Harland, Darren Svirskis, Brad Raos, Salvador Lopez, Manju Ganesh, Delshad Kalantary

Examining electrical activity within the spinal cord offers a window to view damage to neural pathways following an injury. In this research, we aim to develop diagnostic capability into our implanted neural interface, by recording spinal electrical activity to identify biomarkers that characterise an injury, assess spared neurological function, and guide treatment and rehabilitation.

Researchers: Lead – Brad Raos, Brittany Hazelgrove, Darren Svirskis, Bruce Harland, Leo Cheng, Andreas Kempa-Liehr

Delivering drugs safely and effectively to the site of a spinal cord injury is a major challenge. This research focuses on developing advanced drug delivery systems that enable localised and sustained release of drugs within injured tissue, ensuring drugs remain where they are most needed. 

Researchers: Lead – Mahima Bansal, Simon Kellaway, Bruce Harland, Salvador Lopez, Manju Ganesh, Darren Svirskis

Ultrasound stimulation has been widely used to help the body recover from injury. In this research aim we are exploring how ultrasound can be tuned to help injured cells of the central nervous system recover.

Researchers: Lead – Sachin Thakur, Brad Raos, Darren Svirskis

The spinal cord is made up of different cell types including but not limited to oligodendrocytes and motor neurons, both of which are affected following injury. We use cell reprogramming technology to convert adult human skin cells into neurons and oligodendrocytes with the goal of replacing those lost or damaged following injury.

Researchers: Lead – Amy McCaughey-Chapman, Brooke Hawker, Bronwen Connor 

This research bridges lab discovery and clinical application by uncovering neuroplasticity mechanisms and applying them through targeted rehabilitation and therapies. It spans molecular biology, neural circuitry, behavioural neuroscience, and advanced techniques within established spinal cord injury models.

Researchers: Lead - Jarred Griffin, Darren Svirskis, Pani Papaioannou, Salvador Lopez, Bruce Harland 

The Spinal Cord Injury Research Facility provides training to students and emerging researchers to develop novel approaches to treating spinal cord injury, and to understand the challenges people face living with spinal cord injury in order to improve clinical care. Our current research projects explore repurposing existing drugs for treating spinal cord injury; removing scar tissue to promote regeneration and tissue repair; tailoring interventions to the unique needs of older adults; and the impact of pre-existing health conditions.

Researchers: Lead – Simon O’Carroll, Amitai Zuckerman, Bensy Mathew

Speech and swallowing difficulties are common after spinal cord injuries and spinal surgeries. Our research maps prevalence, risk factors and clinical characteristics of speech and swallowing difficulties after spinal cord injury in order to develop assessment and rehabilitation approaches to restore normal speech and swallowing function as quickly as possible after injury.

Researchers: Lead – Anna Miles