Grant: Project Grant

Gene therapy offers the promise of a fast and permanent cure for a wide range of bone disorders. The ability to repair bone with gene medicines requires stimulating deposition of new tissue with therapeutic genes. In conjunction, implantable scaffolds should provide suitable environment to create new bone. We are proposing to undertake successful gene therapy of bone by new, effective carriers that deliver genes into cells, making them exceptionally effective in stimulating new tissue. We will additionally utilize bone-mimetic scaffolds that are capable of stimulating local bone regeneration in a way that has not been possible before. This project will provide a relatively safe alternative to viral gene vectors and successful completion of this project will accelerate clinical practice of gene therapy in bone diseases.