Burns researchers make inroads into skin tissue engineering

by Anne Crawford

Monash University scientists and surgeons in the Alfred Hospital’s burns unit have edged closer to their goal of growing full thickness human skin to replace the need for skin grafts with the publication of two recent research papers.

The first paper reports on the findings of a three-year clinical study into an application of the procedure called cultured epithelial autograft (CEA). Regarded as the birth of skin tissue engineering, CEA takes skin cells from the patient needing the graft and grows the upper layer of skin (epidermis) in sheets in a laboratory.

Position vacant: Research Scientist (Skin Culture Laboratory)

Research scientist Grade 1 sought with experience in primary cell culture and animal testing.  

• Seek link for the position description.
• Closing date for application: 19 March 2017.

Photo of the Week: Burns Unit

Miss Heather Cleland (Director of the Victorian Adult Burns Unit based at the Alfred hospital) and a patient. In addition to being a practising clinician, Ms Cleland is also head of the Skin Tissue Culture Laboratory, part of the Monash University Department of Surgery. See more:
Research: www.med.monash.edu.au/surgery/alfred/research/skin-tissue-lab.html
Clinic: www.alfred.org.au/burns_unit/
Burns Unit photo gallery