New research project aims to improve outcomes and reduce antibiotic reliance for patients affected by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.
A research team led by Cheryl Miller, Director of Research and Innovation, School of Clinical Dentistry, has secured £1.6 million in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Healthcare Technology Translation Partnership Scheme to accelerate the development of a pioneering treatment for a debilitating jawbone condition.
This funding will support a project focused on developing new materials for a condition called medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Patients with MRONJ suffer from painful non-healing bone in their jaw which is prone to infection and affects daily activities such as eating and speaking. MRONJ occurs as a side effect of medications used to treat osteoporosis and cancer, and the number of people at risk is increasing as more drugs are linked to the condition and as the population ages.
MRONJ is very hard to treat and current treatment options often require numerous trips to the dentist and repeated courses of antibiotics, which can contribute to the rising global problem of antimicrobial resistance. Cheryl Miller, Principal Investigator said: “The condition can have a profound impact on patients, causing chronic pain and making everyday activities such as eating and speaking difficult. The underlying mechanisms of MRONJ remain poorly understood, which can make treatment challenging and outcomes variable.”
The multidisciplinary research team, which includes Christine Le Maitre, Paul Hatton, Vanessa Hearnden, Hanya Mahmood and Graham Stafford, are developing a new biomaterial which can tackle the two biggest challenges in MRONJ: bone healing and infection control. This new material contains zinc, to prevent infection and calcium phosphate to support the repair of the damaged bone.
As part of the project, the team will also develop a new laboratory based model to study the jawbone and overlying soft tissue without the need for animal models. This model will allow the team to study how the new material behaves in combination with the cells, tissue and bacteria found in the mouth to optimise the material for future clinical use.
Cheryl Miller said: “The ambition is to create a medical device that will allow the protective soft tissue barrier and bone to repair without relying on heavy courses of antibiotics. This funding from the EPSRC, alongside support from industry partner Ceramisys Ltd and patient groups, is vital in translating the technology from concept into a viable medical device with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.”
Dr Hanya Mahmood, Senior Clinical Lecturer & Consultant Oral Surgeon said: "MRONJ remains a significant clinical challenge, with significant impact on patients’ quality of life. This project represents an important step towards developing biologically informed, clinically translatable solutions that address both infection and promote soft and bone tissue healing. By reducing reliance on repeated antibiotics and invasive interventions, we hope to move towards more predictable, patient-centred care for patients’ affected by MRONJ."
