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Lower back pain is one of the most common causes of job-related disability in the UK, which is strongly related to the degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVD). In recent years biomaterials have played an essential role in the development of new approaches to restore disc function. This presentation will entail aspects of biomaterials and tissue engineering related to the development of cell-based systems to aid the regeneration of IVDs and other tissue types. During the event, there will be Pint of Science goodies to be won!
The painful fate of being a vertebrae!
Dr Estelle Collin
(Postdoctoral Researcher)
Neck and low back pain affect over 80% of the population during their lifetime. These pathologies are mainly associated to ageing and degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD) leaving people with pain and reduced mobility. The IVD plays the role of cushion in between the vertebrae providing mobility and flexibility to the spine. During ageing and pathologies, these cushions decrease in height and become less flexible inducing pain. Current treatments are based on pain relief and prevention rather than repair. This talk will focus on the new strategies of repair and regeneration of the IVD.
Biomaterials - The Technology of the Future
Dr Helena Azevedo
(Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering & Biomaterials)
Using biological inspiration and tools of chemistry, physics and engineering, we aim to explore new (macro) molecular units (peptides and sugar polymers) mimicking the composition and structure of carbohydrates and proteins (vital constituents of all organisms) to develop materials by self-assembly with particular properties and function for bioengineering applications.
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