Hulley Group | Tendon and Ligament Physiology
Hulley group research is directed towards understanding skeletal soft tissue disease pathology and devising effective regenerative strategies.
Tendon physiology is compared with ligament, cartilage and bone to identify tissue specific stressors and aging responses as well as drug side-effects. Novel 3D systems for signalling and mechanical loading are developed as necessary for realistic ex vivo modelling. Current research projects include mechanisms of diabetic tendon pathology, biomarkers of oxidative stress in early osteoarthritis and tendinopathy, cellular physiology of gap junctions in tendon networks and mechanisms of heterotopic ossification of soft tissues following blast exposure.
Findings are translated into research tools (eg. PlexOA osteoarthritis biomarker panel – PCT Patent Application no. PCT/GB2015/050732) and clinical trials (eg. MRC/ NIHR EME - PATH2- Platelet rich plasma in Achilles Tendon Healing 2).