Newcastle firm Malhotra Group ploughs five-figures into osteoporosis research

Leisure and hospitality giant Malhotra Group plc has handed a five-figure sum to the Mitochondria Research Group in a bid to help identify the cause and treatment of osteoporosis.

The condition, marked by the thinning of bones, affects millions worldwide. The £33k from Newcastle-based Malhotra will be used to fund research into identifying the mechanisms causing it.

The study will be conducted at Newcastle University by orthopaedic surgeon Daniel Hipps, who is taking a three-year break from his work at the city’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital to pursue a PhD on the subject.

Malhotra Group believes the results of the research could have significant implications not just for patients, but for the NHS, which spends over £2bn annually on hip fractures due to osteoporosis.

Daniel’s research efforts will focus on identifying a potential link with DNA mutations in mitochondria, the ‘battery pack-like’ parts of the body’s cells.

He said: “I spend a lot of my time treating patients with broken bones and the majority of these are related to osteoporosis.

“I am extremely grateful for the support of the Malhotra Group plc, which has enabled me to take time out of clinical training and investigate the cause of osteoporosis, which remains poorly understood.”

He added: “Hopefully the new findings of this research will open up new treatment strategies, reducing fracture risk and benefiting patients.”

Malhotra Group is currently one of the region’s biggest residential care providers, with 12 homes across the North East run by its Prestwick Care subsidiary.

Group chairman Meenu Malhotra commented: “If new treatments can be developed as part of this research, then it may reduce the time older patients spend in hospital and help them remain independent for far longer.”

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