Stem cell research
Project aim
To recruit talented stem cell researchers for set time periods.
Target
£2 million.
Recognising significant support
- Naming academic posts
- Naming equipment
Translating medical research into clinical application is our primary aim. Without philanthropic support, we risk losing time in bringing our work to the doctors and patients who need it.
Anthony Hollander (PhD Pathology 1990)
Arthritis Research Campaign Professor of Rheumatology & Tissue Engineering
In a worldwide medical first, Bristol University stem cell experts engineered a windpipe, which was successfully transplanted into a young patient in Spain. It saved her life.
Importance
270 UK patients who would benefit from a tissue-engineered windpipe transplant operation now hope a way can be found to scale up this work. And patients with other conditions, such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease or neurological conditions, could all benefit from a drive in this area of adult stem cell research – where Bristol is at the fore.
In the UK alone, Parkinson’s disease affects 120,000 individuals; multiple sclerosis, 85,000; Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, 750,000. Each year, coronary heart disease kills 110,000. Osteoarthritis affects up to 20% of people over the age of 65.
The human body has over 200 kinds of specialised cells (mature cells) that support the particular tissue or organ where they are found. They have a limited life-span and so must be continuously replaced if normal tissue function is to persist. As we get older our mature cells are unable to perform as well and as a result are less effective at generating tissue.
We can get around this problem by using stem cells. By giving them the right signals to grow into the particular kind of mature cell that we need, we can direct research to provide treatment for many debilitating diseases.
Impact
Support for this project means that untreatable diseases could be treated.
In ten years we expect this research to provide treatments for Neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke and Alzheimer’s disease), coronary heart disease and musculoskeletal disease (including osteoarthritis).
Goal
We will recruit talented stem cell researchers to increase Bristol’s output – so that Claudia Castillo’s life is just the first of many to be saved.
Firstly, we wish to create a small number of Research Fellowships (two in orthopaedics/rheumatology and one in neuroscience) that will fund experienced, senior stem cell scientists for five years each.
Secondly, we wish to train a new generation of stem cell scientists. We aim to achieve this by recruiting 10 PhD students to work on three-year projects within the existing stem cell groups in Bristol.
Finally, the increased mass of stem cell researchers will need to be supported through the purchase of some additional equipment needed for research.