The work is led by Dr Scott Roberts, whose research interest
is focused on the mechanisms that control skeletal homeostasis, with an
emphasis on manipulating the signalling pathways to enhance the ability of stem
cells to coordinate skeletal tissue repair.
Dr Roberts joins the Department of Comparative Biomedical
Sciences at the RVC having worked at the Katholieke Universiteit (KU) in Leuven
(Belgium). He has also researched this topic as Principal Investigator at
University College London and as Senior Principal Scientist at UCB Pharma.
Cartilage plays a vital role in the joint, providing a
smooth lubricated surface, reducing friction, and absorbing
shock during movement. However, its ability to repair itself is extremely
limited. Damage to the cartilage often progresses to osteoarthritis. There
is also currently no approved evidence-driven therapy for the treatment of this
disease.
The new gene therapy research programme in osteoarthritis
will be undertaken in partnership with the Vaccinology and Cell Therapy Hub at
the RVC. The Hub – with its close connections to both scientists and veterinary
clinicians – is also well-placed to take the science from bench-to-bedside and
facilitate clinical trials in veterinary patients. This will include horses at
the Equine Referral Hospital, and dogs and cats at the Queen Mother Hospital
for Animals at the RVC.
Dr Roberts said: “This research has the potential to change
the way that we approach degenerative joint disease and I am delighted to have
access to the Vaccinology and Cell Therapy Hub while we undertake this work. We
hope that this science will lead to a ground-breaking treatment for
osteoarthritis in animals, and eventually humans.”
In addition to osteoarthritis, Dr Roberts’ research aims to
create regenerative therapeutics for non-healing bone fractures. This is based
on a comprehensive understanding of tissue development, as tissue repair is now
regarded as a re-emergence of embryonic signalling cascades. Dr Roberts has
used knowledge in this area to identify developmentally inspired methodologies
to create laboratory grown tissue implants that have the capacity to drive bone
fracture repair.
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