Basic Science

Basic science research as the key to translational medicine

NSRUG works closely with collaborators and is involved in numerous clinical and basic science research projects. Our research has been featured at major national and international spine and neurosurgical meetings. In particular, our basic science projects focuses on the testing and development of new biomaterials for spinal cage implants, as well as the biomechanical properties of different implant designs.

In collaboration with the Surgical & Orthopaedic Research Laboratories at Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, we investigated the effects of plasma spraying titanium on PEEK to improve implant-bone surface integration and long-term stability. We showed that plasma sprayed titanium coating improve mechanical properties in cortical sites, as well as the histology in cortical and cancellous sites. The study was published in 2015 in The Spine Journal.