PolyU innovative project on osteoarthritis treatment supported by French National Research Agency/RGC Joint Research Scheme

Scientific research offers solutions to combatting disease with novel treatment options. In addition to such research being vital to the well-being of humanity, advancements in medical technology have far-reaching impacts on global health. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received support from the French National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche)/Research Grants Council Joint Research Scheme (ANR/RGC JRS) - 2024/25 Exercise to conduct an innovative project focused on osteoarthritis treatment.

The project, titled “Deciphering and Targeting Cholinergic Signaling to Treat Osteoarthritis,” is led by Dr WEN Chunyi, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of PolyU. It has been awarded approximately HK$2.27 million (Hong Kong) and €378,000 (France) under the ANR/RGC JRS for a duration of 36 months.

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability in older adults, characterised by the loss of articular cartilage that cushions the joint during movement. The funded project integrates collaborative research in rheumatology and biomedical engineering to advance osteoarthritis treatment.

This initiative is undertaken in collaboration with Prof. Jeremie SELLAM, Professor of the Department of Rheumatology of Sorbonne University in France. The project aims to investigate the role of the non-neuronal cholinergic system in osteoarthritis pain and inflammation, as well as to dissect the intertwined neuronal and chondrogenic cholinergic systems in vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) treatment. Additionally, it will evaluate the database and serum biobank from a randomised controlled trial on VNS treatment in patients with inflammatory hand osteoarthritis.

Dr Wen and his team have established a long-standing collaboration with the French experts. Their collective expertise and pilot studies have addressed technical challenges related to vagus nerve stimulation in small animal models, the monitoring of in vivo cholinergic activity, and the interactions between acetylcholinesterase and the α7-nAChR.

Dr Wen said, “We anticipate elucidating the interaction between neuronal and chondrogenic cholinergic signalling proteins in the pathogenesis of inflammatory osteoarthritis, with the vision of developing a novel neuromodulation therapy.”

The ANR/RGC JRS aims to strengthen collaboration between French and Hong Kong research communities. Both basic and applied research proposals of high academic merit in all areas are invited under the scheme.

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