Spinal cord injuries are now incurable by devastating effects on people’s lives, but the trial at Waipapataumatalau at the University of Auckland offers hopes for effective treatment.
Spinal cord injury crushes signals between the brain and the body, often resulting in loss of function.
Prenatal and lesser, naturally occurring electric fields play an important role in early nervous system development, encouraging and leading to the growth of nerve tissue along the spinal cord. Scientists are currently using this same electrical guidance system in their labs. AN implantable electronics have been resilient in animal research to restore movement after spinal cord injury and increase hope for effective treatment in humans and pets.
We developed an ultra-thin implant designed to sit directly in the spinal cord precisely placed above the injured site of rats. ”
Dr. Bruce Haaland, Senior Researcher, Pharmacy Department, Waipapa Taumata Lau, University of Auckland
This device provides a carefully controlled current throughout the injury site. “The goal is to stimulate healing so that people can restore function lost due to spinal cord injuries,” says Professor Darren Swillskis, director of the university’s catwalk treatment program.
Unlike humans, rats have a higher ability to recover naturally after spinal cord injuries, allowing researchers to compare natural healing with healing supported by electrical stimulation.
Four weeks later, animals undergoing daily electric field treatment showed improved movement.
Throughout the 12-week study, they responded to a more rapid and gentle touch.
“This shows that treatment supported both movement and sensation recovery,” Haaland says. “Equally important, our analysis confirms that treatment does not cause inflammation or other damage to the spinal cord, indicating that it is not only effective but safe.”
The new study, published in major journals, came from a partnership between the University of Auckland and the Chalmers Institute of Technology in Sweden. See Nature Communications.
“In the long run, it’s about turning this technology into a medical device that benefits people living with these life-changing spinal injuries,” says Maria Aspland, professor at Chalmers Institute of Technology.
“This study provides an exciting proof of concept that field therapy can support recovery after spinal cord injury,” says Lucas Matter, a doctoral student at Chalmers University.
The next step is to investigate various doses, including the intensity, frequency and duration of treatment, to influence recovery and discover the most effective recipes for spinal repair.
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Journal Reference:
Harland, B., et al. (2025). Daily electric field treatment improves functional outcomes after thoracic cons spinal cord injury in rats. Natural communication. doi.org/10.1038/S41467-025-60332-0.
