Cure-related SCI Clinical Trials Australia
Below are details of Australian based clinical trials which aim to restore function or feeling to people living with a spinal cord injury. At the request of our supporters we have also included clinical trials exploring treatments for neuropathic pain.
If you are a researcher and would like your trial listed here, please email [email protected]
If you are a person with a spinal cord injury or their carer and you would like to express your interest in any of these or any upcoming trials, please join our mailing list
Trials Currently Recruiting
ewalk 2 (Project Spark)
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Walking
WHO: Spinal Cord Injury C2 - T12; ability to walk 2 steps (aided or unaided)
WHERE: Sydney (NSW), Adelaide (SA), Wollongong (NSW), Fremantle (WA)
WHEN: March 2023 - Dec 2026
More info
Team lead: Professor Jane Butler
Institution: Kolling Institute, Sydney University
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation
Primary targets: Standing / Walking
Eligibility:
- Spinal Cord Injury (C2-T12);
- >1 year post injury; able to take 2 steps (with or without assistance, braces, gait aids or within parrallel bars)
- * further eligibility criteria to be discussed with the research team
Duration: 12 weeks, 3 visits/week
Enrolling: Up to 96 volunteers. Trial Paused, Continuing Recruitment May 2026.
The ewalk2 study is a Bayesian Optimised Phase II (BOP) trial comparing two kinds of biphasic neurostimulation.
More Info - Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the ewalk2 study
Get a Grip (Project Spark)
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Arms, hands and breathing
WHO: Quadriplegics
WHERE: Sydney (NSW), Canberra (ACT), Adelaide (SA) , Auckland (NZ), Wollongong (NSW), Fremantle (WA)
WHEN: March 2023 - Dec 2026
More info
Team lead: Profs Simon Gandevia and Jane Butler
Institution: Kolling Institute, Sydney University
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. Trial Paused, Continuing Recruitment May 2026.
The Get a Grip study is a Bayesian Optimised Phase II (BOP) trial comparing two kinds of biphasic neurostimulation.
More info:Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the Get a Grip Study
Biospine
WHAT: Combination therapy including: electrical stimulation of muscle, thought-control, virtual reality, cycling, and drugs
FOR: Movement and sensation
WHO: Complete chronic traumatic SCI
WHERE: Gold Coast
WHEN: 2024
More info
Team leads: Dr Claudio Pizzolato and Dr Dinesh Palipaaa
Institution: Griffith University
Intervention: Combination therapy including: electrical stimulation of muscle, thought-control, virtual reality, cycling, and drugs
Primary targets: Movement and sensation
Eligibility:
- Complete traumatic SCI
- At least 2 years post injury
- 18–40 years of age
Duration: 2–4 times a week for up to 52 weeks
Enrolling: 2024
Media summary:
BioSpine is a digitally-enabled rehabilitation technology for spinal cord injury (SCI) that combines the effect of multiple rehabilitation technologies and drug therapy. Current evidence suggests that electrical stimulation of muscle, thought-control, virtual reality, cycling, and anti-anxiety drugs could partially restore movement and sensation in people with SCI.
This clinical study assesses the long-term effects of BioSpine’s new type of rehabilitation, following a sustained intervention on motor and sensory function of people with SCI.
More Info - Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the BioSpine study
RRULI
WHAT: Neurostimulation and Acute Intermittent Hypoxia
FOR: Arms, hands and breathing
WHO: Quadriplegics
WHERE: Multiple centres inc Melbourne and Sydney
WHEN: March 2025 - Dec 2027
More info
Team lead: Profs Simon Gandevia and Jane Butler
Institution: Kolling Institute, Sydney University
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. Trial Paused, Continuing Recruitment May 2026.
The Get a Grip study is a Bayesian Optimised Phase II (BOP) trial comparing two kinds of biphasic neurostimulation.
More info: Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the RRULI Study
TESCoN spinal stimulation
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Arm and hand function
WHO: Tetraplegics
WHERE: Melbourne, Victoria
WHEN: July 2025 - Dec 2026 (Approx)
More info
Team lead: Prof Mary Galea (in collaboration, Vale Prof Reggie Edgerton
Institution: University of Melbourne and Austin Health
Intervention: Transcutaneous (non-invasive) neurostimulation
Primary target: Arm and hand function
Eligibility:
- tetraplegia with motor function below C4 as a result of traumatic spinal cord injury
- time since your injury is 3-6 months, or 12 months or more
- aged between 15 and 75 years
- no other neurological condition or injury
- no implanted device (e.g. pacemaker)
- no previous tendon or nerve transfer surgery in the hand or arm
Duration: 4 weeks, 5 days/week
Enrolling: March 2026 - Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Melbourne
More info: Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the TESCoN study
The RESTORE Trial
WHAT: Immersive virtual reality
FOR: Touch perception
WHO: Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury
WHERE: Home based
WHEN: March 2026 - May 2026
More info
Team lead: Prof Sylvia Gustin
Institution: University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Intervention: Virtual reality haptic walking (VRHapticWalk)
Primary targets: Touch sensation
Eligibility:
- Complete (AIS A) or Incomplete (AIS B) Spinal Cord Injury at or below T1
Duration: 30 min treatments on 20 consecutive days
Enrolling: March 2026 - May 2026
More Info - Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the RESTORE Trial
Online Surveys
Lived Experience Survey - Peripheral Oedema
WHAT: Online Survey
FOR: Peripheral Oedema
WHO: Aquired Neurological Conditions (SCI/MS/MND/Stroke)
WHERE: ONLINE SURVEY
WHEN: April 2026 - October 2026
More info
Team lead: Emily Muldoon (MRes student) and Dr Vincent Paramanandam (Academic Supervisor)
Institution: Maquarie University
Intervention: Online Survey - Discovery Only
Primary targets: Peripheral Oedema
Duration: 10 - 15 Minutes
Eligibility:
- Are over 18 years
- Be living with any of the following for 6 months+ - Spinal Cord Injury / Multiple Sclerosis / Motor Neuron Disease / Post-stroke and experience with peripheral oedema (swelling)
More Info: Fill out the form below and let us know you're interested in the Lived Experience ONLINE SURVEY
Recruitment Complete
VR Walk
WHAT: Immersive virtual reality
FOR: Pain
WHO: Lumbar paraplegic & quadriplegics C5–C7
WHERE: Home based.
WHEN: Recruitment Complete
More info
Team lead: Prof Sylvia Gustin
Institution: University of NSW
Intervention: Virtual Reality walking game
Primary target: Pain
Eligibility:
- Complete lumbar paraplegics and quadriplegics C5–C7
Where: At home
Duration: 10 mins, twice a day for 10-14 days. Plus 6 questionnaires that will each take between 20–40 mins to complete over approximately 12.5 months.
Enrolling: Complete
eWALK (Project Spark)
WHAT: Neurostimulation
FOR: Standing/walking
WHO: Incomplete paralegics
WHERE: Sydney, Melbourne, Glasgow, Chicago, Toledo (Spain)
WHEN: Recruitment Complete
More info
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: now Sydney & Melbourne. Recruitment closing soon
More info: NeuRA SCIRC
Sydney and overseas sites: [email protected]
Melbourne: contact Prof Gavin Williams: [email protected]
The SCAN Study
WHAT: Cannabidiol (CBD—cannabis extract)
FOR: Pain
WHO: Spinal cord injured with ongoing neuropathic pain
WHERE: NeuRA, Randwick Sydney
WHEN: Recruitment Complete
More info
Team lead: Prof Luke Henderson
Institution: Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA)
Intervention: Cannabidiol (CBD—cannabis extract)
Primary targets: Pain
Eligibility:
- Are over 18 years
- Have a spinal cord injury
- Do have ongoing neuropathic or nerve pain
- Are willing to provide a small blood sample
- Are willing to be exposed to brief painful stimulus
- Are willing to attend the NeuRA facility to undergo an MRI and EEG
Enrolling: Complete