The Project Walk Research and Development Department has two major functions:

1. Keeping up with and contributing to the latest in spinal cord injury research.

Each year, hundreds of research projects are conducted all over the world on spinal cord injury. Many of these studies are relevant to our work here at Project Walk. These research papers may deal with physiological, neurological, and biochemical changes that are not easily understandable. Each time a new study comes out that we feel is noteworthy, it's abstract will be posted under the link "Current Research Articles" along with a brief explanation of why the study relates to what we do at Project Walk. Past articles are available in the Research Archives section, as well as on our message board. Please feel free to discuss the current and past articles on our board.
We also have conducted and continue to conduct our own research projects. We currently have ongoing research relationships with the University of California, Irvine and California State University, San Marcos. This area of the website will keep the SCI community updated on what we are doing within this facility.

2. Development of new and innovative equipment for the SCI community

Project Walk has developed several new devices for spinal cord injuries in house, as well as assisted manufacturers and research teams with research and development of their own SCI related products. Project Walk was instrumental in developing one of the first, if not the first, body weight supported mechanized elliptical trainer available for clinical use (i.e. not developed solely for a research project). We have also partnered with a local manufacturer of exercise equipment to adapt one of their pieces of equipment to be used by SCI and other disabilities. We are currently in the process of commercializing both of these and hope to be able to have them available to the general population soon.

For more information on the Project Walk Institute of SCI Recovery and related research and/or development projects contact:

 Eric Harness, CSCS, CSRS III
Director of Research and Development
Phone: (760) 431-3482
Email: eharness@projectwalk.org