SUFFERERS of severe osteoporosis or bad fractures which are healing slowly are being offered new hope by scientists at the University of Southampton.
Dr Kris Partridge and Dr Richard Oreffo are working on ways to grow replacement bone in the laboratory.
The technique uses cells which can develop into bone or cartilage given the right conditions and growth agents.
A £216,000 grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is to fund research into non-viral ways to deliver growth agents to the cells to encourage further development of bone growth.
Existing techniques use viruses, such as one that causes the common cold, as part of the process and can be harmful to patients.
The work is being carried out in association with Dr Martin Garnett, Prof Kevin Shakesheff and Prof Steve Howdle at the University of Nottingham.
Dr Partridge said: "Bone is a living material and our skeleton renews completely within ten years.
"If we can find a safe way of helping bones grow, it could make a great difference to many people's lives."
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