MedSys - Chronic Wounds (BMBF): Systems biology of Wound Healing

Coordinators: Prof. Dr. P. Angel, Dr. N. Grabe

Funding: BMBF Systems Biology Program: MEDSYS Medical Systems Biology

Partner: Prof. Dr. P. Angel, Prof. Dr. P. Boukamp, Prof. Dr. G. Germann, Prof. Dr. P. Schirmacher, Prof. Dr. R. Eils, Dr. H. Busch, Dr. N. Grabe

Abstract:
Goal of the cooperative project is the development of an integrated approach towards the understanding of wound healing. Using silico-, in vitro- and in vivo models, the re-epithelialisation process in healing skin wounds is studied.To this end, a multi-scale approach integrating the molecular and cell biological level is pursued with the goal of deriving therapeutically relevant insights into the molecular machinery of the skin. The joint research project consolidates the expertise of theoretically, experimentally and clinically working groups of the DKFZ (Angel, Boukamp), the university of Heidelberg (Eils) and the university hospital of Heidelberg (Grabe, Germann, Schirmacher). The systems biological model to be developed will (1) reflect the complexity and dynamics of the wound healing process from wounding to wound closure on a cellular and tissue level and (2) offer new strategies for clinical improvements of wound closure. The group of Dr. Grabe investigates the wound closure process on a cellular level via a computer based multi-agent model of keratinocytes (WP1b) and analyses the influence of topically applied growth factors on an wound closure model based on three-dimensional organotypic cultures (WP4a).

Duration: 2009-2012

Staff: K. Westphal, K. Safferling, C. Ernst, T. Pommerencke, T. Sütterlin,  B. Lahrmann, C. Guziolowski, S. Hernandez, N. Grabe

 Wound Healing Model: organotypic skin culture (A) mechanical wounding (B) complete regeneration within 10 days (C)

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