At PCSRF, our progress has never been the work of one organisation alone. Every breakthrough in spinal cord injury research, from early-stage lab discoveries to the world-first human clinical trials now underway has been made possible by the trust and generosity of our partners.
We’re deeply grateful for the researchers, government bodies, and corporate and community supporters who share our belief that a cure is within reach. Together, these partnerships form the foundation of everything PCSRF has achieved, and everything still to come.
Research Partners
The Foundation’s most significant and enduring research partnership is with Griffith University’s Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research. This long-term collaboration, led by Professor James St John, encompasses a body of funded research projects spanning more than a decade and includes the world-first Nerve Bridge Transplantation and Rehabilitation Human Clinical Trial now underway at the Gold Coast University Hospital. It is not a single project but a sustained commitment to seeing this science through from the lab bench to real outcomes for people living with paralysis.
The Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation proudly funded its first 4 year research project conducted by PhD Student Rita Juneja from 2009 – 2013 at Bond University. This project investigated the ability of the adult zebrafish to repair its central nervous system following damage.
In May 2018, PCSRF funded a three year research project led by Professor Marc Ruitenberg at University of Queensland.
This project is a collaborative effort that brought together the expertise of Dr. Marc Ruitenberg, one of Australia’s foremost SCI researchers, and that of Prof. Ernst Wolvetang, a leader in pluripotent stem cell biology and functional genomics.
Government and Institutional Partners
PCSRF has worked alongside government bodies and research funding institutions to secure the major investment that spinal cord injury research requires. The Foundation played a pivotal role in opening the door to Queensland Government support, advocating directly for the research at a state level. That advocacy resulted in the first $5M contribution through the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) in 2017, and MAIC has since committed a further $11.1M across two subsequent rounds of funding, bringing their total investment in the Griffith University research program to $16.1M. Queensland Health has also contributed $2M directly to the human clinical trial, separate to its funding through MAIC, reflecting a growing recognition of this research as a genuine priority. More recently, the Medical Research Future Fund awarded Professor St John’s team a $6.8M Stem Cell Therapies Grant, expanding the human clinical trial to thirty participants.
Corporate and Community Partners
None of this work happens without the generosity of the businesses, philanthropists, and community supporters who stand with the Foundation. Our corporate partners contribute in ways that range from in-kind support and event partnerships to research funding and long-term sponsorship.
Find out more about becoming a corporate partner
Interested in partnering with PCSRF? We’re always open to new collaborations that help accelerate spinal cord injury research and bring us closer to real outcomes for people living with paralysis. Whether you’re a business, philanthropist, or organisation looking to make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with our team to discuss partnership opportunities.
