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Research collaborations – Foundations and associates
SKINTEGRITY.CH
Chronic skin ulcers, inflammatory skin diseases, and skin cancer are very common pathologies which frequently cause high morbidity or even mortality. The development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these disorders requires a thorough understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms and close collaboration between experts from different disciplines. With this in mind, Zurich-based experts with an interest in skin initiated the interdisciplinary and collaborative research project SKINTEGRITY in 2015, which was selected as the University Medicine Zurich “Flagship Project” in 2016. Within a few years the team made important discoveries, and first clinical trials based on the obtained results are ongoing. After very successful international evaluation, SKINTEGRITY integrated major experts from other Swiss universities and research institutions into the program, and the extended team (SKINTEGRITY.CH; www.hoch-
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schulmedizin.ch/skintegrity) received significant funding from the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, the University of Lausanne and from private foundations. SKINTEGRITY.CH includes 40 principal investigators (including four from the Department of Dermatology, UHZ) with in-depth expertise in basic skin research, (bio) engineering and clinical dermatology, rheumatology and surgery. The team addresses the following goals: – – –
Gain a mechanistic understanding of skin repair and disease using a highly interdisciplinary approach Develop innovative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of impaired wound healing and inflammatory and malignant skin diseases Provide interdisciplinary training for the next generation of scientists, clinicians and engineers
