Kenneth Lau

Wednesday, April 08, 2015

The Chinese University and three mainland institutions have produced a new kind of "engineered bone" with blood vessels and nerve cells to help treat patients.

Joining the Chinese University in the HK$50 million-HK$60 million research were Fourth Military Medical University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the Southern Medical University Nan Fang Hospital.

Professor Li Gang of Chinese University's department of orthopedics and traumatology said the discovery accelerates the recovery rate and lessens the pain.

In the past, traditional engineered bone had been used to replace bone lost in accidents or removed, but the outcome was not good enough and the new bone did not grow properly.

Li said if blood vessels and nerve cells are implanted into the engineered bone, the new bone will grow better, though the end result is still under study. Hong Kong's public hospitals had yet to use the new technology as a human clinical application. This had so far only been done in the mainland.

Li believes the cost for surgery will range between HK$80,000 and HK$100,000. He called on the government to put more resources into the study.

The Chinese University has received eight awards this year, including two first-class awards and five second-class awards in natural sciences, as well as one first-class award in scientific and technological progress.

University vice chancellor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu and his research team also received a first- class award in natural sciences. His research topic was integrative research on molecular basis and potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer.

Originally posted here:
Team offers bone surgery hope

Comments are closed.