Ground breaking gene therapy wins Award

Dr GPV Subbaiah, a renowned Spine Surgeon at STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad, was awarded the ASSI Basic Science Award for his groundbreaking contribution to treating intervertebral disc degeneration. The award was given away by the top brass of the prestigious Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI).

Intervertebral disc degeneration or degenerative disc disease is a chronic condition and a common cause of back pain. Conventional treatment protocols, such as surgeries, for treating degenerative disc disease have failed to effectively address the underlying pathology of the condition. This, in turn, has inspired Dr Subbaiah to research the possibilities of using regenerative gene therapy to treat the condition.

After painstaking research, Dr GPV Subbaiah arrived at the siRNA mediated gene therapy to treat degenerative disc disease. It is known that siRNA or Small Interfering RNAs have certain therapeutic potential, but till date, most of the studies in the sphere of siRNA have been directed towards the development of cancer treatments.

The siRNA mediated gene therapy, researched by Dr GPV Subbaiah, has the potential to treat disc degeneration on a molecular level by correcting the biochemical imbalance present within degenerating discs. The therapy can thus potentially change the natural history of this disease without the morbidity associated with conventional surgery.

After conducting ‘in vivo’ and ‘in vitro’ experiments, the therapy formulated by Dr Subbaiah is now ready to be applied as the basis of a pilot study in humans. Dr Subbaiah’s original research has been widely appreciated by the medical community in India at large.

For Appointement : Dr GPV Subbaiah, Spine Surgeon at STAR Hospitals, Hyderabad.