Innovative research to improve outcomes for people with spinal cord injuries is among projects which attracted funding under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Ideas Grants scheme.
Dr Stuart Hodgetts, who holds a joint appointment at the Perron Institute and The University of Western Australia (UWA), will use a grant of $1,006,328 for research he leads on red and near-infrared photobiomodulation (light) therapy for spinal cord repair using implanted devices.
“Damage after spinal cord injury leads to life-long disability and this research seeks to enhance repair and improve recovery outcomes,” said Dr Hodgetts, who heads the Spinal Cord Repair Laboratory at the Perron Institute and UWA.
“Photobiomodulation therapy using light in the red to near-infrared part of the spectrum has a protective, anti-inflammatory effect.
“This approach to treatment is attracting increasing global attention as a ‘low risk, high gain’ option in several clinically relevant fields.
“Several preclinical studies into Photobiomodulation therapy show promising outcomes, although protocols vary greatly, and optimal parameters such as wavelength, energy and power density of the light source, duration and time of onset remain uncertain.
“Our team’s research will focus on the therapeutic potential of a wireless implantable LED device based on established biocompatible technology to deliver light directly to the spinal cord injury site to limit damage and improve function.”
Perron Institute Honorary Senior Research Fellow and UWA Emeritus Professor Alan Harvey and Professor Vincent Wallace, who heads the Department of Physics at UWA are co-investigators.
The NHMRC Ideas Grant scheme is aimed at tackling some of the most critical health and medical challenges and designed to inspire and encourage researchers to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Funding was announced late December by the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP.