Harnessing Novel Partial Reprogramming Technology to Revitalize Aging Skin Fibroblasts for Enhanced Wound Healing
Grantee: Yossi Buganim, Associate Professor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Amount: DKK 3,996,300
Grant category: Research Grants in open competition
Year: 2024
Geography: Israel
Yossi Buganim’s project investigates the mechanisms behind fibroblast dysfunction in aging skin and develops a novel technology for rejuvenating aged fibroblast to improve wound healing.
Fibroblasts are pivotal in orchestrating skin wound healing processes, contributing to fibrin clot breakdown, extracellular matrix synthesis, collagen formation, and wound contraction. These multifaceted roles highlight their significance in skin repair following injuries, which trigger a cascade of synchronized healing mechanisms. Despite their crucial functions, aging impairs fibroblast functionality, leading to prolonged and impaired wound healing processes, increasing susceptibility to chronic wounds and scarring. Elderly individuals experience delayed wound healing, partly attributed to reduced cell division of the aged fibroblasts and diminished fat cell production and attraction to the wound area, resulting in thinning skin and heightened vulnerability to injuries. Moreover, aging cells exhibit slower regeneration, compromised bacterial defense mechanisms, and increased inflammation, further hindering the healing process.
Addressing these age-related impairments is imperative for advancing wound care strategies. Yossi Bunganim’s project seeks to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying fibroblast dysfunction in aging and leverage novel partial reprogramming technology to rejuvenate aged fibroblasts, enhancing wound healing outcomes.
Yossi Bunganim’s project aims to develop innovative interventions to mitigate the burden of chronic wounds and scarring in the aging population, ultimately improving overall quality of life and healthcare outcomes.
Decoding circadian host-microbiome skin interactions in health and psoriasis
Grantee: Eran Elinav, Head of Department, Weizmann Institute of Science
Amount: DKK 4,000,000
Grant category: Research Grants in open competition
Year: 2024
Geography: Israel
Eran Elinav’s project explores the role of circadian rhythm in regulating host-microbiome interactions in the skin, and the impact of abnormal circadian rhythm on the microbiota of the gut, with a potential link to skin inflammation, psoriasis in particular.
While the exact cause of psoriasis remains elusive, it is believed to stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including dietary and biological clock-related influences. The mechanism by which these factors impact psoriasis is closely tied to the circadian rhythm, as evidenced by the abnormal circadian rhythms observed in psoriasis patients. In recent years, the pivotal role of the microbiota – the trillions of indigenous microorganisms inhabiting the human body – has come to the forefront. Eran Elinav’s group has recently uncovered that circadian disruption can exacerbate inflammatory diseases by disrupting the diurnal oscillations of the gut microbiota. His project explores how the circadian clock may also orchestrate fluctuations in the dermal microbiome, which could be crucial in understanding skin diseases such as psoriasis.
Eran Elinav’s project aims to identify novel host-microbiome interactions in the skin and generate a novel framework for microbiome-based interventions for psoriasis.