Project description
Training a new generation of scientists in skin organogenesis
Treating skin burns and large trauma using transplantation of autologous split-thickness skin carries a number of serious drawbacks, including pain, mobility-limiting contractures and disfiguring scars. The EU-funded SkinTERM project aims to address wound healing in a completely different way, recapitulating skin embryonic development in adults while striving to regenerate rather than repair skin. Skin organogenesis will be induced by key elements taken from the extracellular matrix of foetal skin and the skin of species that exhibit no scarring in the regeneration process and by employing (stem) cells from relevant cellular origins. The project aims to create a new generation of entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary scientists with intersectoral training and excellent career prospects in either academia, industry or government.
Objective
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.
Fields of science
- 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)
Coordinator
6525 GA Nijmegen
Netherlands