Major international prize for spinal research

Four University of Auckland researchers have won a major international prize in spinal research for their contributions to understanding back pain.

Doctoral students Meredith Schollum, Sam Veres, their supervisor Professor Neil Broom of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, and clinical collaborator Auckland spinal surgeon Dr Peter Robertson, jointly received the ISSLS Prize for Lumbar Spine Research at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The prize is considered to be the premier international award in spine research.

The prize, also known as the Volvo Award, recognised two pieces of research. Meredith produced the first detailed description of how the microscopic layers comprising the wall of the intervertebral disc connect. Intervertebral discs are the soft cushions between each vertebrae in the spine.

Sam’s complementary research identified areas of weakness in the disc using a special pressurization technique, helping to describe why some forces on the spine result in a ‘slipped’ disc.

Professor Broom says the research has given clinicians and disc researchers significant insights into the fundamental architecture of the disc and how it fails under pressure.

“This combined research is bringing us a step closer to developing tools for combating the common and debilitating condition of back pain,” says Professor Broom.

New Zealand spinal surgeon Dr Peter Robertson collaborated on the research to ensure its relevance to real cases of spinal disorders.

Some 80 percent of people will suffer with lower back pain at some point in their lives.

The winning papers will be published in the highest ranked international spinal research journal, SPINE.

The four winners are part of the Biomaterials Research Group in the Faculty of Engineering. The US$15,000 prize cheque will be spent on enhancing the group’s optical imaging facilities.