Involvement Opportunity - PRaCTicAL Research Project (UK)

[BritishLiverTrust1]

The British Liver Trust are excited to be working with NHS Lothian, University of Edinburgh, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Services (SNBTS) and Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult as part of a collaboration to create the first ‘Centre for Precision Cell Therapy for the Liver’ in the world.

PRaCTicAL will look to develop new cell-based treatment products for liver diseases and Type I diabetes and to boost the ability to perform liver-related clinical trials in Scotland. Currently there are no specific medical therapies for liver cirrhosis (advanced liver scarring) and other liver conditions such as biliary diseases and acute liver failure have very limited treatment options. Liver transplantation is a potential cure but not all patients are eligible and there is a shortage of donor organs. Because of the different causes of liver damage, specific liver conditions will need a distinct ‘precision medicine’ approach.

The collaboration has received funding from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to build on outstanding research skills and facilities to create the first ‘Centre for Precision Cell Therapy for the Liver’ in the world. It will develop novel cell therapies to target liver damage, to reduce ill-health and death due to liver disease and avoid the need for liver transplantation. Work will build on promising laboratory studies of different cell therapies for liver disease and type-1 diabetes, and an early human safety trial in cirrhosis patients (Macrophage Therapy for Liver Cirrhosis (MATCH) study).

If you have a liver condition, are in the UK, and interested in taking part by attending several focus groups (on Teams) - the first being later this month - please email: [e-mail]

For more information on the exciting work of PRaCTicAL visit the website here: ed.ac.uk/regeneration-repai...