Trinity Bioengineer Wins ERC Proof of Concept Award to Develop Non-Surgical Lower Back Pain Treatment

Trinity Bioengineer Wins ERC Proof of Concept Award to Develop Non-Surgical Lower Back Pain Treatment

Professor Conor Buckley, a principal investigator at AMBER, the SFI Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, has been awarded a €150,000 ERC Proof of Concept (POC) grant for his project, iDISC. This innovative project focuses on developing next-generation injectable biomaterials, specifically biomimetic hydrogel systems, to treat lower back pain by halting disc degeneration and restoring natural biomechanical function. The approach aims to provide minimally invasive treatment options for spine-related issues.

Professor Buckley, who is also a professor in Trinity’s School of Engineering, affiliated with the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering and the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, expressed his excitement about the ERC POC award, stating: “This award is a fantastic opportunity to accelerate research in treating disc degeneration, offering new hope for patients suffering from back pain."

The project will span 18 months, during which the team will conduct biomechanical testing, pre-clinical evaluations, and assess commercialisation strategies. The funding also builds on previous support from the European Research Council (ERC), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), and the Irish Research Council.

Back pain affects over 600 million people worldwide and is the leading cause of disability among those under 45 years of age. iDISC aims to address this global health issue with innovative non-surgical treatments, potentially improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and boosting productivity across the EU.