Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is important in cell growth, immune system regulation, and in skin regeneration. In animal models, there is a great deal of evidence supporting modulation of TGF-beta to promote wound healing. However, results in humans have been discouraging, possibly due to inappropriate timing of delivery of the therapy based on affecting TGF-beta action. An alternative approach is to change the levels of molecules that regulate TGF-beta. On skin cells, our group identified CD109 as such a regulator. To identify its ability to affect TGF-beta action in the skin, we developed transgenic mice that express more CD109 in the skin. We hypothesize that as a consequence of the increased levels of CD109 in the skin, when wounded these mice will scar less than their normal counterparts. Additionally, we aim to identify the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of CD109 so that we can promote the development of additional treatments for impaired wound healing and excessive scarring. To do this, we will study the effects of CD109 on gene expression in human skin cells and relate this information to our wound healing data. These studies collectively aim to address the impairment in wound healing and scarring that currently affects approximately 15% of our population and represents significant costs to our health care system. Research into these therapies and the development of additional treatment strategies will allow us to directly improve the quality of life of the affected patients and to redistribute health care funds to address other financially constrained aspects of our health care system.