Lancaster University Secures £1.5M to Innovate Bone Disorder Diagnosis

Lancaster University has received a substantial grant of £1.5 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop a groundbreaking tool aimed at diagnosing bone disorders in community settings. This innovative device will utilize laser technology to measure bone chemistry, providing a safe and effective method for early diagnosis and intervention.

Currently, no technology exists that offers such capabilities, making this project particularly significant. The research team, led by Dr. Jemma Kerns, will collaborate with individuals who have firsthand experience with musculoskeletal conditions, as well as healthcare professionals, to ensure the tool meets the needs of those it will serve.

Increasing Access to Healthcare

The new diagnostic tool is designed to be portable, allowing it to be utilized in various community locations, including GP surgeries, pharmacies, community centers, and religious buildings. This accessibility aims to enhance healthcare services and reduce the need for hospital visits, alleviating some pressure on the healthcare system.

Prof. Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis in everyday environments: “Diagnosing health conditions early and in a way that works for people’s everyday lives is vital. By enabling care closer to home as well as earlier intervention, this will help shift the system from treatment to prevention, improve outcomes, tackle health inequalities and ease pressure on hospitals.”

Musculoskeletal conditions currently affect one-third of adults in the UK. These disorders are the leading cause of disability, sick days, and early retirement, making early diagnosis crucial. The data collected through this new tool will not only help in identifying genetic and age-related musculoskeletal conditions but also allow for monitoring changes over time in patients.

Transformative Technology

Dr. Kerns articulated the potential impact of this advancement: “Preventing disease progression will maximize the longer-term health benefits for people and ease pressure on the NHS, reducing the need to visit hospitals. Early diagnosis can also reduce the cost of treatment or surgery.”

The project will adapt an existing prototype into a more versatile and robust design, utilizing the SORS (spatially offset Raman spectroscopy) technique. This laser-based method shines light on the skin to assess the underlying bone, notably without the use of ionizing radiation, which is a common concern with X-ray technologies. This feature allows for safe, repeated use on both adults and children.

Dr. Kerns remarked, “Establishing this new portable technology will be a game changer for musculoskeletal management and will pave the way for other conditions, such as bone and breast cancers, to be more readily diagnosed and treated.”

The team comprises several experts, including Dr. Amy Saunders, Dr. Leonie Unterholzner, Dr. Olaug Grude, and Dr. Claire Mann from Lancaster University, as well as Prof. Pavel Matousek and Prof. Anthony Parker from the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and Prof. Helen Birch and Dr. Nai-Hao Yin from University College London. The team is also joined by Prof. Marwan Bukhari, a Consultant Rheumatologist at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, who noted that this tool could significantly improve early diagnosis and long-term outcomes for patients while relieving pressure on hospital services by preventing fractures.

The research team plans to honor the contributions of the late Professor Allen Goodship from University College London, who played a vital role in the development of this project. As the project moves forward, its impact on early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders promises to enhance the quality of care for patients across various communities.