Griffith University’s Spinal Injury Project has received a major boost thanks to a $5.4 million funding extension from the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC). This funding supports the 35 researchers in the lab.
Griffith’s Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research team, headed by Professor James St John, is on the cusp of a human clinical trial to treat spinal cord injuries.
“The research team has created a world-first cellular nerve bridge technology which has already received two major national awards, the NHMRC Marshall and Warren Innovation Award 2019 and the Research Australia Discovery Award 2020-2021,” he said.
“The innovative technology enables the rapid generation of cellular nerve bridges which can be easily handled by surgeons for transplantation to treat spinal cord injury.
“This latest round of funding will allow the research team to expand the nerve bridge technology to a wider range of nervous system injuries including peripheral nerve and brain injuries.
“We are now on the verge of a human Phase 1 clinical trial for treating chronic spinal cord injury, and through the ongoing support of MAIC we are delighted we have been able to deliver it right here in Queensland.”
The new MAIC funding of $5.4 million brings the total MAIC investment into the therapy development to more than $16 million since 2017, with the major focus of the research being to develop a therapy for spinal cord injury.
Thank you to Insurance Commissioner Neil Singleton and his team at MAIC who continue to support this important research.
