Congratulations Dr Bruce Harland, CatWalk Senior Research Fellow

We know that collaboration is key to unlocking a cure for spinal cord injury. So we’re delighted that Dr Bruce Harland has been selected to join a small group of emerging New Zealand biomedical research leaders in an MBIE-sponsored trip to China.

The 10-member delegation is being supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

The delegation will be in China from 23 June to 3 July 2025. They’ll travel to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, engaging with leading Chinese institutes and peer Chinese researchers to explore collaborative opportunities.

“For me, it’s an opportunity to see firsthand the research capabilities at some of China’s top institutions,” says Dr Harland

“I believe it’s important for spinal cord injury research and the CatWalk Cure Programme to be represented. This will help establish the field as a strong area of biomedical research in New Zealand.

I’ll definitely be on the lookout for top-tier collaborators and students who can contribute to the strong, spinal cord injury-focused research group we’re building here.”

Dr Harland is a CatWalk Senior Research Fellow and one of the lead Cure Programme researchers. Currently, he is exploring the development of an ultra-thin, flexible, bioelectronic implant. The implant aims to precisely test and map disconnected nerve cell tracts. It also provides electrical stimulus and nerve growth factors to stimulate and guide nerve cell regrowth after spinal cord injury.

Dr Bruce Harland - Spine Squad

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