Be a part of the breakthroughs that change lives.
SCIA Research Corner
Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) – SCIA partner with NeuRA on a range of research initiatives including several that include NeuroMoves staff. NeuRA is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Sydney, Australia. As a leader in brain and nervous system research, their goal is to prevent, treat and cure brain and nervous system diseases, disorders and injuries through medical research.
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation combined with locomotor training to improve walking ability in people with chronic spinal cord injury: a multi-centre double-blinded randomised sham-controlled trial. The walking and spinal cord stimulation trial ran by NeuRA aims to determine if spinal cord stimulation combined with walking training is more effective than only walking training. This will help to identify the most effective type of training to rehabilitate walking function.
The trial lasts for 16 weeks in total, with walking training 3x a week for 12 weeks. The trial is for people with a cervical and thoracic level spinal cord injury.
Spinal Cure Australia – SCIA works with SpinalCure on a range of projects including a current project utilising NeuroMoves staff. SpinalCure is Australia’s premier nationally operating Not for Profit organisation funding spinal cord injury research. They are committed to making a cure for spinal cord injury not only achievable but available and fund breakthrough technologies, data, and creative thinking.
SCIA Supported Research
SCIA has ongoing research partnerships with the following organisations to advance research to build a better community for people with disabilities.
The University of Melbourne
SCIA is backing a research trial aimed at restoring respiratory and upper limb function following cervical spinal cord injury. The trial investigates the effects of combining several therapies: exercise training (ET), transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) and therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH), to see if they can result in lasting improvements in the upper limb and respiratory function after cervical spinal cord injury. The goal is to identify the most effective combination of therapies for future clinical trials.
The research trial is hosted at the University of Melbourne and conducted by multiple international teams. Please read the news post for detailed information about the research trial.
Research Opportunities
Australian Virtual
University of Sydney: International Exploration of Rehabilitation Length of Stay, Experiences and Outcomes Following Spinal Cord Injury: Australian Arm.
This NIH study, led by Professor Allen Heinemann, with the Australian arm led by Professor Ashley Craig, explores healthcare system differences across five nations, including Australia, to improve SCI rehabilitation outcomes amidst challenges like the COVID pandemic.
University of Queensland: Designing a VR Application for Motorised Wheelchair Selection: A User-Centred Approach. This project will bring together motorised wheelchair users, health professionals, and researchers to co-design a prototype virtual reality application to help wheelchair users make informed decisions about the best wheelchair to suit their needs
University of Adelaide: Accessing and Understanding Health Information Following a Spinal Cord Injury or Disorder. This project examines the health literacy skills, or the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health decisions, of people living with a chronic neurological condition: spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D).
Melbourne
Austin Health, TESCoN, The University of Melbourne: Driving functional recovery after SCI using transcutaneous electrical spinal cord neuromodulation (TESCoN)
Participants must be between 15-75 years, have tetraplegia below C4 as a result of a traumatic SCI. Time since injury between 3-6 months, or 12 months or more. Not had previous tendon or nerve transfer in the hand or arm, and no implanted device (eg pacemaker)University of Melbourne: Home-based clinical trial investigating Therapeutic Intermittent Hypoxia (brief exposure to simulated mountain air) and exercise training to improve breathing and arm function.
Participants must be 18+, have tetraplegia (levels C2-T1), have an incomplete injury with evidence of motor incomplete paralysis in the upper limb, and had your injury (or onset of impairment) at least 12 months ago.This trial is based in Victoria only.
Further Information
Research at SCIA is underpinned by our Research Framework.
If you would like to discuss anything on this page in more detail please contact Hannah Maslen, Secretary of Clinical Governance and Research Committee, at hmaslen@scia.org.au or call (08) 6256 5513
Clinical Governance and Research Committee
Research and Clinical Governance at SCIA is supported by the Clinical Governance and Research Committee (CGRC), a subcommittee of the SCIA Board of Directors.
The CGRC members are experts and people with lived experience that voluntarily provide advice on research and clinical matters. Meetings are quarterly. Current members include:
Professor Glen M Davis OAM (SCIA Board Member and Committee Co-Chair): Professor of Clinical Exercise Sciences in the Sydney School of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney, with clinical and research experience in exercise therapy and rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions, particularly spinal cord injury.
Leesa Addison (SCIA Board Member and Committee Co-Chair): A passionate change advocate currently working as a business and digital transformation consultant after 25 years working in technology and innovation as a CIO and senior executive. A lived experience advocate for systemic improvement of our health and community services sectors serving as a Non-Executive Director in disability and mental health.
Steve Peterson (SCIA Board Member and Rural/Regional Clinician): Steve works as a doctor with an interest in emergency telehealth and addiction medicine. He is a non-executive director at LiveBetter – a disability service provider focused on regional areas. Additionally, Steve is an Orange City councillor, serves on the clinical governance committee of Wangarang – a local disability employment provider – and conducts education work through RACGP and various universities. He has completed the Foundations of Directorship and Finances for Directors courses through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dianne Lucas (SCIA CEO): Experience as both the Deputy CEO and Acting CEO at St Vincent De Paul Society NSW, where she led several disability services. Dianne has also managed several organisational functions including organisational performance and development, information and communications technology, governance, fundraising and communications as well as human resources.
Professor Mary Galea AM FAHMS (Research Representative): Professorial Fellow, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne. A physiotherapist and neuroscientist, with clinical research experience in the rehabilitation of neurological conditions including stroke, MS and SCI.
Dr Jackie Reznik (Clinical Representative): Extensive national and international expertise as a clinical neurological physiotherapist (SCI, Brain Injuries and other chronic/genetic neurological conditions) in adults and children. Also a researcher in the area of SCI and traumatic/non-traumatic brain injuries.
Dr Camila Quel De Oliveria (SCIA Internal Research Adviser): Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney. Postgraduate clinical qualifications in Neurological Physiotherapy applied to the chronic and acute patient (adult and paediatric) populations. Is an allied health researcher in neurological populations, with special interest in SCI, Camila is a SCIA representative member of the committee.
Beverley Wright GCBM (Community Family Member/Carer): 10 years lived experience with her husband who is a C3/4 Quadriplegic. A highly motivated management professional with substantial senior management and leadership experience across a wide range of industries including Aged Care, Commercial and Retail Banking, Superannuation and Hospitality.
Dr Amanda Frier (Rural or Regional Clinician): A clinical background in nutrition and dietetics and lived experience of neurological disability have placed her on the giving and receiving ends of healthcare for people with disability. Experience in qualitative research in neurological disability, Type 2 diabetes, and the social determinants of health.
Dr Keran Howe (O.AM) (Lived Experience Representative), Keran has a social work background and lived experience of disability. She has been a leader in health and disability over many years advising national and state governments on policy reform related to women’s health, violence prevention and the rights of people with disabilities. Keran has been awarded an honorary doctorate, a Centenary Medal, the Lesley Hall Lifetime Achievement Award and the Order of Australia Medal for her work on behalf of people with disabilities and has been inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll for Women. Keran continues to work for the human rights of people with disability as an advisor in related areas and is an Independent Director, National Disability Research Partnership, and a member of the Disability Innovations Institute (UNSW) Advisory Council.
Research Framework and Research Plan
Research at SCIA is underpinned by our Research Framework and guided by our Bi-annual Research Plan.
Please take some time to read the following documents to see if you project aligns:
If you would like SCIA’s Clinical Governance and Research Committee (CGRC) to provide your research support through promotion, support, partnership and funding please fill out our Research Proposal Form or Research Support or Promotion Request Form
If you would like to discuss anything on this page in more detail please contact Hannah Maslen, Secretary of Clinical Governance and Research Committee, at hmaslen@scia.org.au or call (08) 6256 5513