Osteoporosis
Researchers at The University of Nottingham are hoping to identify new ways to treat osteoporosis and bone fractures.
A team led by Dr Sebastiaan Winkler in the School of Pharmacy has been awarded over £430,000 by the Medical Research Council to explore new ways to treat fragile bones and boost bone health. In collaboration with the School’s Professor Peter Fischer, a medicinal chemist, they will search for drug leads targeting a class of enzymes that repress bone growth.
Hip, wrist and spinal bone fractures due to fragile bones are common in middle age and the elderly. Such bone fractures are a significant cause of premature death and misery, and are a huge financial cost to the NHS. Moreover, only few treatments with limited effectiveness can be offered at the moment.
Dr Winkler, who studies the function of genes in human cells, said “This research is based on many years of fundamental research with no immediate application in mind. If successful, however, it may be the first step towards a novel treatment for fragile bones that will be more effective than any currently available medication.” Professor Fischer, an experienced ‘drug hunter’ commented: “The basic research that has lead to new insights into the regulation of bone growth now offers an exciting avenue for developing new treatments in an area of high medical need.”
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Posted on Wednesday 2nd November 2011