Irish scientist hoping 'cool' use of bio-material will help fight arthritis

A Co Westmeath scientist could be on the verge of solving the problem of cartillage repair.

A Co Westmeath scientist could be on the verge of solving the problem of cartilage repair.

Dr Fergal O'Brien of the Royal College of Surgeons has been awarded an EU grant of €150,000 to develop technology for growing cartilage between bones.

Worn cartilage is a contributory factory in arthritis.

Dr O'Brien said early tests were very encouraging.

"We developed a specific bio-material that can promote tissue regeneration when it's implanted into the body," he said.

"What we're proposing here is to use that technology in what we think is a cool form of gene therapy to implant it so that it turns on the genes associated with cartilage regeneration while turning off the ones associated with arthritis."