Researchers Win Regenerative Medicine Funding

Four academic teams from the universities of Durham, Leeds, Newcastle and York have been awarded regeNer8 grants totalling nearly £250,000 in the scheme’s second round of grant funding.

The winners of the two collaborative research and development grants were Dr Mary Herbert from Newcastle University, for her work on a novel bio-processing system for cellular therapy; and Durham University’s Dr Stefan Przyborski for his work on new technology which grows skin in a laboratory for cosmetic and drug testing research.

Technology validation grants were awarded to Dr Xuebin Yang from the University of Leeds whose team has combined three technologies to provide an innovative approach to regenerative medicine which minimises the risk of infection; and Dr Paul Genever from the University of York for his project which isolates mesenchymal stem cells from different tissues with the aim of turning them into bone structures for use as 3D bone replacements.

Established by N8 through the Northern Way initiative, to promote scientific, social and economic development in the North of England, regeNer8 is a virtual centre that brings together the work of the North of England’s top scientists to advance and accelerate the development of regenerative therapies, which aim to replace or repair diseased or damaged body parts. The Centre is directed by Professor John Fisher at the University of Leeds and is managed from the University of Leeds with project management support from Newcastlebased CBSL and BITECIC in Leeds.