Description du projet
Former une nouvelle génération de scientifiques à l’organogenèse de la peau
Le traitement des brûlures et des grosses lésions traumatiques cutanées par transplantation de peau autologue à épaisseur fractionnée présente un certain nombre d’inconvénients sérieux, notamment les douleurs, les contractures limitant la mobilité et les cicatrices disgracieuses. Le projet SkinTERM, financé par l’UE, entend aborder la cicatrisation des plaies d’une manière totalement différente, en reprenant le développement embryonnaire de la peau chez l’adulte tout en s’efforçant de régénérer la peau plutôt que de la réparer. L’organogenèse de la peau sera induite par des éléments clés issus de la matrice extracellulaire de la peau fœtale et de la peau d’espèces qui ne présentent pas de cicatrices dans le processus de régénération, ainsi qu’en employant des cellules (souches) d’origines cellulaires appropriées. Le projet a pour objectif de préparer une nouvelle génération de scientifiques entreprenants et multidisciplinaires disposant d’une formation intersectorielle et d’excellentes perspectives de carrière dans les domaines académiques, industriels ou gouvernementaux.
Objectif
Transplantation of autologous split-thickness skin -the epidermis with a tiny layer of dermis- remains the golden standard for various skin wounds like burns and large trauma. This treatment, however, comes with a number of serious drawbacks, including pain, mobility-limiting contractures and disfiguring scars. The SkinTERM consortium will address wound healing in a completely different way, recapitulating (certain aspects of) skin embryonic development in adults, and aiming for regeneration rather than repair. Skin organogenesis will be induced by key elements taken from the extracellular matrix of foetal and non-scarring species and by employing (stem) cells from relevant cellular origins. The starting point for the study is the remarkable capability of early foetal skin and skin from the spiny mouse (Acomys) to heal perfectly without scars/ contraction and with appendices such as hair follicles. Novel biomaterials and skin substitutes will be developed and evaluated. In order to effectively embrace this new approach, the PhD students need to have knowledge in key elements of basic science, regenerative medicine and biomaterial sciences. As translation to medical devices and especially advanced therapy medicinal products is currently too limited, we will give the PhD students a solid theoretical and practical foundation on topics like regulatory affairs, GMP and GCP, as well as secondments in industry. Driven by both the enthusiasm to gain basic scientific insights and the need for efficacious and innovative therapies, the students will acquire expertise through cutting edge scientific projects and will be trained by leading experts in all required skills to further develop their scientific findings into real life-science products. The SkinTERM program will thus create a new generation of entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary and inter-sectorially trained scientists with excellent career perspectives in either academia, industry or government.
Champ scientifique
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologytissue engineering
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterials
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinateur
6525 GA Nijmegen
Pays-Bas