Scientists in Cardiff at the cutting edge in the search for alternatives to joint replacements
Scientists at Cardiff University are confident that their work on "growing" new cartilage in the laboratory will radically improve a new surgical technique which could be used as an alternative to a joint replacement.
A team at the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratories - recognised as one of the leading centres for connective tissue research in the UK - is studying many aspects of cartilage biology, including how it develops, changes with age and is lost in joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.
The work of the Cardiff Group is supported by leading medical research charity the Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) with funding for several research projects totalling more than £1m, under the direction of Professor Bruce Caterson, Professor Charlie Archer and Dr Vic Duance, with the aim of improving damaged joints.
The ARC's Research Week (June 7-13) focused on the enormous success of joint replacement surgery over the past few years, development of ever-better surgical techniques, and the resulting benefits for thousands of arthritis sufferers. It also aimed to restore public confidence in joint replacement, following public concern earlier this year over the failure of one type of hip replacement.
"As an alternative to joint replacement in the treatment of advanced arthritis, procedures to stimulate cartilage repair are becoming increasingly important," explained Dr Vic Duance, from the School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences.
"A new method now being employed in advanced centres world-wide for the treatment of cartilage damage involves the isolation of a small fragment of tissue from the damaged joint. Cells derived
from this tissue are grown in culture in the laboratory to increase their number and then implanted back into the damaged area of tissue.
Already a handful of "grow your own" transplants have been carried out in centres throughout the UK, using patients' own cartilage to regenerate new cartilage, after the technique was pioneered in Sweden a decade ago.
" The main problem with this new technology is that new cartilage, synthesised by the implant, in general, does not integrate with the existing cartilage, and the repair remains weak," Dr Duance added.
Dr Duance, with his colleagues Dr Rob Young and Dr Gill Davies, are carrying out detailed laboratory studies which they hope will lead to a better understanding of the nature of healthy cartilage.
In addition, studies on cartilage development by Professor Archer, Dr Sara McPhearson and Dr Gary Dowthwaite are unravelling the complexities of how cartilage is made that will enable more effective repair strategies to be employed in the future.
The scientists in the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratories in Cardiff, particularly Professor Caterson with two ARC Research Fellows, Dr Clare Hughes and Dr Carl Flannery, are also at the forefront of research into identifying markers of joint diseases which will be vitally important in assessing the efficacy of the new surgical procedures currently being employed.
These studies, with other projects being undertaken in the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratories is resulting in scientific advances that these scientists believe will ultimately improve the ability of surgeons to generate effective repair of damaged joints.
The ARC is the only medical research charity in the UK solely dedicated to finding the cause of and cure for arthritis and other forms of rheumatic disease. Last year it raised more than £20m from voluntary donations.
