Improving the understanding of intervertebral disc degeneration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving the understanding of intervertebral disc degeneration, diagnosis and treatment
IRAS ID
223278
Contact name
Judith Hoyland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a strong, fibrous structure which separates, absorbs shock and allow movement between the vertebral bodies of the spine. Back pain is one of the most prevalent and costly socioeconomic disorders affecting the western world today and IVD degeneration represents one of the leading causes of back pain. As the population both grows and ages this problem is increasing. Current medical interventions treat the symptoms, rather than the underlying degeneration and offer poor long-term success, therefore it is essential for new therapies to be developed. Biologic and cell-based therapies offer the potential to regenerate the disc, restore function to the spine and treat back pain. However, for such therapies to be developed it is vital to understand biology of cells within the IVD and to determine the changes which occur during degeneration and the mechanisms behind these changes. We believe that within each region on the IVD, there are different populations of cells, which look similar but behave differently and we aim to develop a detailed understanding of these cells. We also plan to look for biomarkers in blood and IVD tissue which may be used to improve diagnosis and develop more tailored treatments, and to look at clinical images of the degenerate IVD to see whether we can identify degeneration earlier or more precisely. To achieve our aims we will use tissues routinely removed and discarded during surgery. The findings from this research will inform better diagnosis and help direct the development of future therapies for treatment of IVD degeneration and low back pain.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1408
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion