Scar study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of potential biomarkers in the role of scar formation
IRAS ID
184814
Contact name
Baljit S Dheansa
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Victoria hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
9 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. There is a lack of a clear understanding of the processes involved in fibrosis and scar formation and research directed towards technologies that can lead to scar reduction has proved to be elusive.
The Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) is a regional centre for burns and plastic surgery. The hospital treats patients with acute wounds and those undergoing surgical reconstruction and scar revision. As part of this treatment scar tissue will often be removed and disposed of as clinical waste. We would like to use these discarded scars to investigate how the different molecules affect the development of human scars.
QVH, and the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation (BMRF) are affiliated to the Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine, a specialist cross faculty group within the University of Brighton who are investigating regenerative medicine technologies, biomaterials and scar free healing.
The study aims to collect 300 samples of skin scar tissue removed during surgery. This will be a pilot study that aims to develop the data and framework for which a larger multicentre study with other centres dealing with wounds and scar can be designed.
Participants will be those undergoing surgery that involves removal of scar tissue
Participants will complete a detailed questionnaire prior to surgery to understand the background of the scar, the participant’s medical history, and if they meet specific risk factors understood to lead to adverse scarring.
The study will be registered on the UKCRN database and published on the Blond McIndoe Research Foundation and The University of Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine Website.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0372
Date of REC Opinion
15 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion