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Summary of project/progress /findings.
This project builds on a BSSH/Scar Free Elective award which supported pre-clinical proof of concept studies for serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) measurements as a diagnostic tool for traumatic nerve injury.
The primary objective of this BSSH pump priming fund has been to translate these laboratory findings into a human model of nerve degeneration/regeneration; carpal tunnel syndrome. A sub-primary objective has been to galvanise important collaborative links between UCL/Stanmore and Oxford to address high priority research challenges within regenerative medicine.
The team has retrieved serum NfL data from 60 CTS patients before and after release surgery. Serum NfL data has also been captured from 20 age and gender matched controls for comparison. In the next phase of this project, the applicant will analyse these data for statistical significance and trends with the view of writing a paper for publication in an international journal/scientific meeting.
Several other collaborative projects involving wider application of serum biomarkers in different human scenarios nerve injury/recovery have been stimulated by this study. This has allowed the applicant to strengthen his collaborative links and supervisory team; critical steps towards establishing a career as an academic reconstructive surgeon. The applicant is grateful to Prof Furniss, Mr. Akira Wiberg, Mr. Tom Quick, Prof. Annina Schmid and Miss. Hazel Brown for their supervision and continued support.
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