As we mark Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness week, we would like to highlight the clinicians, researchers and members of the community working to improve outcomes for people living with a spinal cord injury.
Research improving spinal care
At the Kolling Institute, we have a large number of people driving innovative and potentially life-changing research, including the expert team at the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research.
Here, investigators are using the very latest and promising therapies to reduce the disabling pain often experienced by people with a spinal cord injury. They’ve developed national healthcare guidelines and they’re improving crucial resources. Our researchers are also providing valuable information about the best rehabilitation techniques.
More than 50 years of spinal care and research at Royal North Shore Hospital
Royal North Shore has a long history of advancing clinical care and research in spinal injury and spinal disease.
This was driven by Professor Tom Taylor, who was appointed the inaugural Professor of Orthopaedic and Traumatic Surgery at the University of Sydney in 1969. He was a true clinical scientist, well before the term gained common parlance.
Tom was a specialist spine surgeon and internationally recognised authority on spinal trauma and paediatric spinal pathology.
In his position as head of Orthopaedics at RNSH, Professor Taylor not only grew the clinical spine service but also founded the Raymond Purves and the Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Labs. These are now part of the Kolling Institute and continue to conduct research into spine injury and disease.
Research at the Raymond Purves Lab continues Professor Taylor’s legacy, with over 100 publications related to disc disease. These have made extraordinary contributions to our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of this condition, and advanced new treatment approaches using stem cells.
SpineCare Foundation offering strong support
Professor Taylor’s impact in spinal injury and disease extends beyond RNSH, through the SpineCare Foundation. It cares for children with spinal cord disease or injury, and initiated the schools' scoliosis testing program for adolescent girls.
The SpineCare Foundation continues today as part of Northcott, and in 2025, is celebrating 40 years of support for research, new resources and education for children with spinal cord injury and dysfunction.
SpineCare is currently supporting two PhD projects at Western Sydney University, and every year funds multiple scholarships to support students with a spine associated disability to attend tertiary education and pursue a higher degree.
This wonderful program reflects Professor Taylor’s firm belief in the importance and power of education.
Continuing the RNSH and Kolling connection, Professor Chris Little, the current director of the Raymond Purves Research Lab, sits on the Board of the SpineCare Foundation.
“I’m so pleased to be able to support research and education in spinal injury and disease, both through the discovery science we do in the lab and the opportunities made possible through the SpineCare Foundation,” he said.
“Having even a small part in helping extraordinarily talented people with spinal injuries and conditions achieve their higher education goals through the SpineCare Scholarships is really humbling.”
"I’m excited to publicise and support Spinal Cord Injuries awareness week this week.
“Fittingly, on World Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day (Sept 5), I will be co-hosting with Professor Ashish Diwan (Chair of Spinal Surgery University of Adelaide) and Prof Chris Maher (Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health University of Sydney) the 7th Annual Sydney Spinal Symposium. The symposium aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals dedicated to improving spinal care."