A team of surgeons, biologists, and engineers is combining tissue engineering with minimally invasive surgery to repair damaged cartilage and treat early osteoarthritis. This matters because osteoarthritis affects millions of people, and current treatments only manage symptoms rather than restoring the joint surface. The centre aims to close the gap between laboratory discoveries and treatments that actually reach patients. If the research succeeds, it could change how early osteoarthritis is treated. Instead of joint replacement, patients might receive a cell therapy or a personalised scaffold that prompts the body to regrow its own cartilage. The work also focuses on simplifying delivery of these therapies so they can be used widely in clinics, not just specialised centres. The project is translational, not pure fundamental science. It is structured around three themes: running clinical trials with a systems biology approach; refining cell populations used as therapies; and developing materials that can be manufactured at the point of care. The goal is a clear therapy roadmap from lab experiments through to early-phase clinical trials.
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We aim to continue and further develop the world-class translational regenerative research programmes already established and deliver maximum impact amongst the millions suffering from osteoarthritis. Our mission and overarching goals are based upon our original application. Mission: To combine emerging Tissue Engineering and Regenerative technologies with minimally invasive surgical solutions to treat cartilage damage and early osteoarthritis. Goals: Refine cell populations for effective joint surface repair/regeneration. Improve our understanding of the mechanism of action of implanted cells. Improve our knowledge of endogenous stem cells to effect intrinsic repair. Develop scaffolds with personalised geometries for the treatment of joint surface defects. Facilitate widespread use of cell therapy by simplifying its delivery and improving effectiveness. We will be patient-centred while developing our cross-disciplinary translational research. We propose to structure our work into three core themes: Patients – clinical trials and linked systems biology approach. Cell populations – both as therapy and target for therapy. Molecules and Materials – with specific reference to biological effect and endogenous targeting, personalised approaches and point-of-care manufacture. Our therapy roadmap will seek to deliver pre-clinical and early-phase clinical trials: minimally manipulated or culture-expanded cell therapies, osteochondral and patient-specific scaffolds and molecular approaches to induce endogenous repair.
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