"Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder and affects approximately 355 million people world-wide. At present, no definitive cure exists for OA. Current treatment involves total joint replacement (TJR) which accounts for approximately 35% of arthritis related procedures. Presently more than 200,000 total knee replacements and 70,000 total hip replacements procedure are performed annually in the UK. One of the key aspects contributing to successful fixation is the rapid and complete integration of the device with bone (osseointegration). Without this biological reaction, stability is compromised potentially resulting in aseptic loosening which generally requires revision surgery. This can be detrimental for OA patients as the quality of bone is compromised, therefore, the potential for adequate implant stabilisation is substantially reduced. Several studies have identified the surface properties of an implant as being a major determinant of osseointegration. The addition of coatings have attracted interest, however, a major stumbling block for reliable application of coating technologies is potential failure during long-term implantation. Recent data suggests that impaired peri-implant osseointegration is associated with declined osteoprogenitor recruitment. The scientific objective of this project is to identify a strategy for enhancing rapid osseointegration of implant devices through 1) increased recruitment and attachment and 2) modulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. To this end, we aim to develop specific cell targeting antibodies for optimal MSC recruitment and modulation of MSC differentiation for improved osteogenesis. If successful this project would achieve in providing a clinically feasible strategy for improving TJR which would directly impact several million patients annually."