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During his fellowship, he developed techniques to gently stretch delicate neuronal cells until they tear, mimicking the physical trauma caused by a severe spinal injury. This allows his team to observe, in detail, how neurons respond to injury and how different treatments – such as electrical stimulation or drug delivery – might encourage them to regrow. “It’s incredibly powerful to be able to model injury and recovery in a dish, and it means we can optimise new treatments before they reach animal models,” Brad says. As Brad builds a system in a dish to test and perfect new therapies, his colleague Dr Bruce Harland is designing the implant technology to deliver treatments inside the body. Between 2019 and 2022, supported by a Neurological Foundation project grant, Bruce worked on a flexible bioelectronic implant designed to sit safely beneath the spinal membrane. The device emits gentle, targeted electrical fields that encourage surviving cells to regrow connections – and just as importantly, to regrow them in the right direction. Bruce’s current focus is refining how the electrical fields are applied by testing different strengths, frequencies, and durations – while working with neurosurgeons to plan the next phase of larger-scale testing. “It’s one thing to make the science work,” he says, “but the real challenge is making it work safely inside the human body.” Ultimately, his goal is a device that can both monitor and repair the spinal cord, giving clinicians the tools to track recovery and adjust treatment in real time. The research has already reached a major milestone: in pre-clinical models, paralysed animals have regained movement in their hind legs. “It’s proof of concept that regeneration is possible,” says Bruce. “That’s what we’re most excited about – showing that the spinal cord can be coaxed into healing.” The implant also records nerve activity and can be adapted to deliver drugs or combine with cell-based and ultrasound therapies. Together, these approaches now form the backbone of the CatWalk Cure Programme, bringing together Brad, Bruce and a team of more than 20 engineers, neuroscientists, drug-delivery specialists, ultrasound experts and cell- therapy researchers. The large-scale research programme is led by Professor Darren Svirskis and aims to translate discoveries like Bruce’s and Brad’s into real-world treatments that restore lost function after injury. “One advantage is that we started with a miniaturised version of the device. A human spine is much bigger and we have more space to work with.” Darren says while they are chasing a ‘cure’, this could have different meanings for different people. “Spinal cord injury affects far more than movement. It affects bladder and bowel function, blood pressure regulation, sexual function, and chronic pain. If someone can regain even part of a lost function, like holding a spoon again, that can be life- changing. So yes, I think this is the path to a cure, not a miracle fix, but real, meaningful recovery,” he says. “We’re deeply aware that this research is about real people who live with spinal cord injury every day. We’re not chasing prizes or blue-sky science. We’re here to solve a problem that could make a real difference to their lives.” The CatWalk Trust is a New Zealand-based charity founded by one of New Zealand’s leading equestrian riders, Dame Catriona Williams, who sustained a spinal cord injury in a riding accident and has since championed funding for spinal cord injury research. The CatWalk Cure Programme, launched last year, is a large, five-year flexible funding commitment fully funded through the generosity of Catwalk donors. Dr Bruce Harland © Catwalk Trust Headlines 15