Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S71996/01
Title:	Optimisation of Silicon Substituted Apatite Bone Grafts for Spinal Fusion (OSSAP)
Principal Investigator:	Bonfield, Professor W
Other Investigators:	Best, Professor S Rushton, Professor N
Researcher Co-Investigators:	Dr RA Brooks
Project Partners:	Apatech Ltd Grampian University Hospital ()
Department:	Materials Science & Metallurgy
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Faraday (PreFEC)
Starts:	07 June 2004	Ends:	06 June 2007	Value (£):	170,892
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Biomaterials
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare
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Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
Pure synthetic controlled porosity hydroxyapatite (HA) has been shown to be a successful alternative to both autograft and allograft. This material has been produced and CE marked by ApaTech Ltd. and is now in clinical trial for various orthopaedic applications. In parallel with this development, a novel, chemically enhanced form of phase pure HA has been innovated in which silicon substitutes for phosphorus in the HA structure (SiHA). This new material has great potential for bone grafting, as it exhibits enhanced bioactivity both in-vitro and in-vivo. The proposed programme aims to progress this research to clinical application of Si-HA bone graft in the spine within 3 years. Materials will be supplied by ApaTech Ltd. and will be evaluated and optimised through in-vivo and in-vitro pre-clinical trials through a collaboration between the Orthopaedic Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge. An optimised formulation will be taken forward into a clinical trial at the University of Aberdeen. We believe that we may be able to improve on the performance of allograft and approach that of the gold standard - autograft, using chemistry to switch on a more rapid bone integration response. Through clinical trials and scale up of manufacturing for an optimised. C.E.-marked new product. AoaTech Ltd. will be able to enter the market in a very strong position.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.cam.ac.uk