Researchers at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) have made a significant scientific breakthrough by discovering a way to control tissue repair and wound healing. This discovery could revolutionize the treatment of chronic wounds, offering new perspectives for millions of people affected around the world.
In a press release, the Free University of Brussels (ULB) announced a major scientific breakthrough: researchers have discovered a way to control tissue repair and wound healing.
This discovery could transform the treatment of chronic wounds, a significant clinical problem that affects many people around the world.
Also read
MPOX ‘not the new Covid’, says World Health Organization
Natural skin repair
Wound healing is a natural process for most of us, involving “activation, migration and division of skin stem cells”.
This mechanism allows the skin to regenerate after injury. However, for some people, this process does not occur properly, leading to what are called “chronic wounds”.
These wounds, which do not heal within a normal time frame, represent not only a major clinical challenge but also a considerable financial burden.
Chronic wounds
Chronic wounds are often associated with underlying pathologies such as chronic venous insufficiency or diabetes.
Among the most common chronic wounds are venous and arterial leg ulcers and pressure ulcers.
These prolonged conditions can lead to serious complications if not treated effectively.
A promising discovery
Professor Cédric Blanpain, researcher and professor at ULB, has conducted a study that could revolutionize the treatment of chronic wounds.
His research revealed that wound healing “is accompanied by a change in the physical properties of the skin”.
When a wound forms, the skin “transitions from a solid to a liquid state, which is essential for tissue repair”.
Once the healing process is underway, the skin tissue returns to its solid state, promoting skin regeneration and repair.
A project made possible thanks to Télévie
Professor Blanpain’s team studied closely “changes in the physical properties of the skin during healing as well as the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process”.
This research could pave the way for a better understanding of the repair of other types of tissues, beyond the skin.
The team of this study states: “We will be able to stimulate tissue regeneration and improve healing”This discovery could be applied to develop innovative treatments aimed at stimulating healing in patients with chronic wounds.
But it could also have significant implications for regenerative medicine, offering new solutions for treating conditions that are resistant to current treatments.
The press release says that this project has been able to see the light of day “thanks to the financial support of several organizations, including the FNRS, TELEVIE, the WEL Research Institute, the Fondation Contre le Cancer, the ULB Foundation and the European Research Council (ERC)“.
health belgium ulb
