It's a world first in the field of bone reconstruction. Saint-Luc hospital has just developed a completely innovative technique: making bone from fat.

So how does it work? Put simply, samples need to be taken of adipose stem cells from under the patient's skin. These cells are then treated to turn them into real bone cells that will repair the damaged bone.

As well as being innovative, the technique poses no risk of rejection because the material, patented and named "CREOST" by the researchers, is obtained directly from the patient.

Eleven patients have so far benefited from this innovative technique, and many more could do so in the future.

To develop the technique and run clinical trials, the researchers have set up a spin-off company: NOVADIP. It joins other spin-offs in the field of cell therapy, a sector which today holds much hope for the future, especially in Wallonia. In particular, it could mean the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

Source: RTBF