Scottish scientists in stem cell breakthrough

A £1.4 million research project at the University of Edinburgh will look at using stem cell technology to repair broken and fractured bones.

It is hoped the treatment will be ready for tests on patients within two years and lead to new ways of healing trauma injuries too severe for current procedures.

Scientists say the study could help to establish new treatments for medical conditions such as osteoarthritis.

The research project will be carried out at the university's MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine with assistance from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

Dr Ross Nobel from the centre is to lead the study and said that inserting the cells into the body inside a "bioactive scaffold" will "kick start the body's natural healing processes, enabling cells to grow and carry out repair to the damaged area".

"We envisage a number of scenarios where this therapy could be used for cartilage injuries or severe fractures," he concluded.