THE ROYAL Orthopaedic Hospital in Northfield is leading groundbreaking research that will help treat bone cancer patients.
Biomedical Technologies for Regenerative Orthopaedics is a new joint research group that brings together the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Aston University and the Brazilian Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA).
It aims to advance research in novel biomaterials for bone regeneration and bone cancer applications.
The three organisations have been collaborating for several years to explore the use of gallium in treating bone cancer patients, and their new alliance will make it easier to secure funding to further this ground-breaking research.
Dr Lucas Souza, Dubrowsky, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital’s regenerative medicine laboratory manager, said: “It’s our understanding that collaboration is the core principle for groundbreaking research and that solving real-world problems requires a multidisciplinary approach.
“This is the officialisation of a long-term international collaboration between Brazil – and UK-based physicists, chemists, biologists and clinical researchers that has already made significant contributions to the advancement of technologies for the treatment of bone disorders such as critical-sized bone defects and bone tumours.
“This new phase represents the first step to establishing a strategic partnership that aims to facilitate the flow of researchers, materials and data between the participating institutions to foster an even richer research environment to accelerate discoveries in the field of biomaterials for bone regeneration and bone cancer.”
The new research group has now secured funding to further the development of an injectable paste for use in bone cancer surgeries.
The funding includes a PhD scholarship with a 12-month international placement.
The PhD student will be based in Brazil and will spend a year in the UK at Aston University.
Prof Dr Joao Lopes, Aeronautics Institute of Brazil, added: “This partnership between institutions in Brazil and the UK not only enhances the development of novel biomaterials and advanced therapies, but also significantly increases our ability to secure funding from agencies that offer exclusive calls for international collaborative projects.
“In addition to enabling the exchange of researchers and knowledge, this alliance fosters a more dynamic innovation ecosystem that supports the development of high-impact clinical and technological solutions.”
