Velcura Therapeutics Inc. will use a more than $1.4 million grant to study the role stem cells play in building strong bones.The Ann Arbor biotechnology company received the grant from the National Institutes of Health. Velcura is conducting research into treatments for bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, but has not yet released any medicinal products.

The recent NIH grant will fund studies of stem cells found in the bone marrow of children and adults, and how they impact early and mature bone cells. Velcura said it will not use stem cells from human embryos in its testing.

Stem cells, particularly embryonic stem cells, have shown promise in regenerating new cells and tissues in the body to cure disease. The science has been the source of scientific and political controversy, because it often involves the destruction of early-stage embryos. Although Velcura does not use embryonic stem cells, the 10-employee company hopes its investigations will provide important information on how to guide primitive cells into becoming bone cells.

Building on technology licensed from the University of Michigan, Velcura has previously received $3.3 million in funding from the state's Technology Tri-Corridor.