After her son received a "profoundly life-changing" medical treatment that eased symptoms of his brain injury, a Toowoomba scientist is working on the second phase of clinical trials into the drug, which is bringing hope to stroke victims.
Associate Professor Coralie Graham, who went into debt to get treatment for her son, has devoted her career to researching the drug — perispinal etanercept — and hopes the trials will lead to it being made available to others.
Her son Joel Shepherd suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was three, and 23 years later, in 2014, she took him to the United States to receive the treatment.
Dr Graham is the chief clinical investigator on the second phase of a world-first clinical trial at Queensland's Griffith University, which is looking at the effectiveness of perispinal etanercept on stroke patients.
Etanercept is normally used to treat arthritis, but the trial is testing the effectiveness of administering it above the spine.
Half of the 80 participants get a placebo while the others get the treatment, and researchers hope to have results later this year.
Scientists believe the drug could also be investigated for use in treating the effects of COVID-19, with many patients suffering loss of taste and smell, fatigue and stroke after being infected with the virus.
Dr Graham said her son's treatment in the US had changed his life by improving his speech, mobility, memory and concentration, and lowering the frequency of his seizures.
"It is truly amazing to have a child who has such significant level of disability be able to regain some function, to be able to claim some of the life back," she said.
"And that made him very aggressive because he couldn't concentrate. He couldn't speak and make his needs met.
"So his quality of life is dramatically better, as is mine, because I know now that he can go and enjoy things."
'I'd do it all again'
Dr Graham, a registered nurse with 40 years' experience, completed a psychology degree and worked in the field to understand her son's condition.
"So all in all, that trip [to the US] cost me about $45,000 that I would pay again in a heartbeat for the improvements that he's had," she said.
Working on the clinical trial means being away from her family for extended periods of time, but she said it was worth it in the long run.
Associate Professor Stephen Ralph is working alongside Dr Graham on the Griffith University trial and said after positive results from phase one of the trial, the second stage had a broader approach.
"These are patients who, after their stroke, have been down the road of rehabilitation, don't show any real treatment improvement from that, so they get despondent," Dr Ralph said.
Dr Ralph said a number of larger trials were needed before the treatment would be considered by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration.
If approved, it could then be placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
"So, it's just a matter of time and money and effort."
'Magic results'
Dr Ralph said the researchers were looking for participants to be part of the study.
Kris Vanston, who is undergoing treatment as part of the trial, has reported less pain and improved speech.
"It's just hope," he said.
Mr Vanston's life was turned upside down when he suffered a stroke last year and has been unable to work as a result.
"It is hard. It is difficult speaking," he said. "The treatment is improving more.
There is also the possibility that the drug might help treat some patients who have suffered a loss of taste and smell, fatigue and stroke after being infected with COVID-19.
"Those patients do have a much higher degree of stroke," Dr Graham said.
"Once you've had a stroke, you're going to have an area of neuroinflammation around that.
