Dr Ciara Murphy, Lecturer from the RCSI Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, the SFI Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) and RCSI Tissue Engineering Research Group has received a €2m Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to develop a regenerative stenting technology that will revolutionise the treatment of vertebral fractures in osteoporotic patients.

Vertebral fractures in the spine are the most common complication of osteoporosis, occurring due to damaged and weakened bone structure. Current treatment involves injecting bone cement into fractured vertebrae to support the spine, but this often leads to further fractures and high mortality rates. 

Fusing cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and 3D printing with nano-therapeutics, this project will develop a minimally-invasive dual component platform – a biodegradable stent to support fractured vertebrae during healing, and an injectable nano-therapeutic biomaterial targeting damaged bone to drive regeneration and repair. 

The new project – RESTORE (REgenerative STenting for Osteoporotic vertebral fracture REpair) will run for five years, starting from June 2024. 

Commenting on the announcement, Dr Ciara Murphy said: “I am thrilled and privileged to receive an ERC Consolidator Grant to develop a technology that will provide a safe and reparative treatment strategy for patients suffering from osteoporotic vertebral fractures, a common and debilitating condition. I envision a future whereby it is possible to restore the structural and mechanical health to the spine, allowing patients to live a normal and healthy life.” 

Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to Dr Murphy on her achievement in securing an ERC Consolidator Grant. ERC awards are the most prestigious and competitive in Europe and it’s a testament to the quality of Dr Murphy’s research and the supportive environment created in RCSI that she has achieved this major success.  

“The RESTORE project is an important step forward in treating osteoporotic vertebral fractures and a great example of the medical innovation we are proud to support at RCSI which is improving the quality of life for patients around the world. 

“This award further enriches RCSI's research landscape, signifying our university’s continued commitment to excellence in scientific discovery and complementing previous successes in other ERC grant programmes.” 

Career-stage support

The Consolidator Grants are one of the four core grant schemes offered by the ERC and are highly competitive awards. This year, out of 2,130 candidates only 308 were selected for grants totaling €627 million and spanning multiple disciplines of research. They support researchers at the career stage where they may still be consolidating their own independent research teams to pursue their ideas.  

On this project, RCSI will collaborate with researchers from Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. 

Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the brilliant researchers who have been selected for ERC Consolidator Grants. I'm especially thrilled to note the significant increase in the representation of women among the winners for the third consecutive year in this prestigious grant competition.  

“This positive trend not only reflects the outstanding contributions of women researchers but also highlights the strides we are making towards a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.”