Professor Vic Duance examining computer images from a confocal microscope.
Professor Vic Duance, director of the new centre, described the approach to be taken by his team as “molecule to man”, in which close collaboration between engineers, biomedical scientists and medics, such as orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and physiotherapists will lead to a rapid switch of research to benefit patients in the clinic.
He said: “We are not claiming to be able to cure arthritis, but we hope to be able to develop much better treatment. At the moment the only effective treatment for severe osteoarthritis is joint replacement, but we are now looking to find other ways of treating patients earlier to slow down the disease progression, so delaying the need for joint replacement.”
“Pain is the major factor in arthritis and an exciting new aspect of the research is to show how overworked joints are linked to pain and disease development. This new information will help them to devise and develop improved treatments such as better drugs and physical therapies.
“Although the aim is to offer new treatments to delay the requirement for joint replacement surgery, in the short term the team also hope to improve the lifespan and quality of existing joint replacements by developing new coatings and materials.
Alan Silman, medical director of the Arthritis Research Campaign, said: “Artificial hip and knee joint replacement has transformed the lives of millions of sufferers over the past four decades. The challenge now is to build on that success and identify novel alternatives to surgery as well as improving the short and long-term outcome of those who need an operation.
Click to read announcement by Cardiff University
“Cardiff has all the individual building blocks to achieve these goals and in a unique national endeavour our investment will bring these groups together, encouraging scientists to focus their attention on these major issues for the benefit of people with arthritis.”
Chris Wilson, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and Dr Rhian Goodfellow, consultant rheumatologist at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, welcomed the new centre.
Dr Goodfellow said: “Arthritis and joint conditions are very common and affect most members of the population – from a young footballer with a bad knee injury to an elderly person with degenerative joints – and everything in between.
“In clinic, it’s hard to tell patients that there’s nothing I can give them to modify their condition, and that I can only help them to help themselves.
“The centre offers those people some much-needed hope.”
Dr David Grant, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This is one of the largest projects in this university to date, and will greatly advance our understanding and treatment of this common condition, putting Cardiff, Wales and the UK at the forefront of research into arthritis.”
WalesOnline™ © 2009 Media Wales Ltd.
April 28, 2009
UK: Wales to be world leader in arthritis research at new centre
.
CARDIFF, Wales / WalesOnLine / April 28, 2009
By Gregory Tindle, Western Mail
WALES will be at the forefront of research into arthritis after the announcement of a £10m project to study the condition.
The boost, announced today, is expected to attract top scientists and researchers from across the world to the new centre at Cardiff University and should provide medical breakthroughs for future generations of sufferers.
The centre aims to provide better and earlier treatments for the millions of people that are affected by the bone condition, which often results in hip and knee replacements and painful problems in the hands and spine.
The experts will be investigating osteoarthritis, a condition which generally affects the over-50s and is suffered by more than eight million people UK-wide – with women generally more susceptible than men.
The Arthritis Research Campaign charity has awarded the university £2.5m over five years to establish the special centre, which will be supplemented by an extra £7.5m provided by the university.
The unit will bring together internationally recognised experts from a number of different research fields to apply engineering solutions and basic science to problems caused by the condition.
Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability, leading to stiff, painful and inflamed joints, There are currently no drugs available that slow down its progression, and the only treatment is pain relief and joint replacement.
Professor Vic Duance examining computer images from a confocal microscope.
Professor Vic Duance, director of the new centre, described the approach to be taken by his team as “molecule to man”, in which close collaboration between engineers, biomedical scientists and medics, such as orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and physiotherapists will lead to a rapid switch of research to benefit patients in the clinic.
He said: “We are not claiming to be able to cure arthritis, but we hope to be able to develop much better treatment. At the moment the only effective treatment for severe osteoarthritis is joint replacement, but we are now looking to find other ways of treating patients earlier to slow down the disease progression, so delaying the need for joint replacement.”
“Pain is the major factor in arthritis and an exciting new aspect of the research is to show how overworked joints are linked to pain and disease development. This new information will help them to devise and develop improved treatments such as better drugs and physical therapies.
“Although the aim is to offer new treatments to delay the requirement for joint replacement surgery, in the short term the team also hope to improve the lifespan and quality of existing joint replacements by developing new coatings and materials.
Alan Silman, medical director of the Arthritis Research Campaign, said: “Artificial hip and knee joint replacement has transformed the lives of millions of sufferers over the past four decades. The challenge now is to build on that success and identify novel alternatives to surgery as well as improving the short and long-term outcome of those who need an operation.
Click to read announcement by Cardiff University
“Cardiff has all the individual building blocks to achieve these goals and in a unique national endeavour our investment will bring these groups together, encouraging scientists to focus their attention on these major issues for the benefit of people with arthritis.”
Chris Wilson, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and Dr Rhian Goodfellow, consultant rheumatologist at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, welcomed the new centre.
Dr Goodfellow said: “Arthritis and joint conditions are very common and affect most members of the population – from a young footballer with a bad knee injury to an elderly person with degenerative joints – and everything in between.
“In clinic, it’s hard to tell patients that there’s nothing I can give them to modify their condition, and that I can only help them to help themselves.
“The centre offers those people some much-needed hope.”
Dr David Grant, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This is one of the largest projects in this university to date, and will greatly advance our understanding and treatment of this common condition, putting Cardiff, Wales and the UK at the forefront of research into arthritis.”
WalesOnline™ © 2009 Media Wales Ltd.
Professor Vic Duance examining computer images from a confocal microscope.
Professor Vic Duance, director of the new centre, described the approach to be taken by his team as “molecule to man”, in which close collaboration between engineers, biomedical scientists and medics, such as orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and physiotherapists will lead to a rapid switch of research to benefit patients in the clinic.
He said: “We are not claiming to be able to cure arthritis, but we hope to be able to develop much better treatment. At the moment the only effective treatment for severe osteoarthritis is joint replacement, but we are now looking to find other ways of treating patients earlier to slow down the disease progression, so delaying the need for joint replacement.”
“Pain is the major factor in arthritis and an exciting new aspect of the research is to show how overworked joints are linked to pain and disease development. This new information will help them to devise and develop improved treatments such as better drugs and physical therapies.
“Although the aim is to offer new treatments to delay the requirement for joint replacement surgery, in the short term the team also hope to improve the lifespan and quality of existing joint replacements by developing new coatings and materials.
Alan Silman, medical director of the Arthritis Research Campaign, said: “Artificial hip and knee joint replacement has transformed the lives of millions of sufferers over the past four decades. The challenge now is to build on that success and identify novel alternatives to surgery as well as improving the short and long-term outcome of those who need an operation.
Click to read announcement by Cardiff University
“Cardiff has all the individual building blocks to achieve these goals and in a unique national endeavour our investment will bring these groups together, encouraging scientists to focus their attention on these major issues for the benefit of people with arthritis.”
Chris Wilson, consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, and Dr Rhian Goodfellow, consultant rheumatologist at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, welcomed the new centre.
Dr Goodfellow said: “Arthritis and joint conditions are very common and affect most members of the population – from a young footballer with a bad knee injury to an elderly person with degenerative joints – and everything in between.
“In clinic, it’s hard to tell patients that there’s nothing I can give them to modify their condition, and that I can only help them to help themselves.
“The centre offers those people some much-needed hope.”
Dr David Grant, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “This is one of the largest projects in this university to date, and will greatly advance our understanding and treatment of this common condition, putting Cardiff, Wales and the UK at the forefront of research into arthritis.”
WalesOnline™ © 2009 Media Wales Ltd.
