Improving wound healing

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

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Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We have found that the circadian clock can affect the rate of cell migration in the wound healing process. By targeting the clock we can accelerate cell migration
Exploitation Route The patents around this have been licensed
Sectors Healthcare
 
Title Antisense targets for CLOCK and BMAL 
Description We have identified a series of antisense sequences that are able to reduce the levels of mammalian and zebrafish CLOCK and BMAL 
Type Of Material Technology assay or reagent 
Year Produced 2012 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact We filed a patent for the most promising sequences 
 
Title D.L. Becker, Cormie, P. and Whitmore, D. Clocks and impaired wound healing. Filed: April 2012 
Description We discovered that the circadian clock could influence the ability of fibroblasts and keratinocytes to migrate in a wound healing response in vitro. We found that by targeting the interaction of CLOCK and BMAL we could speed up the rate of migration. We developed antisense approaches to target CLOCK and BMAL and went on to test these in vitro and then in vivo in mouse models of wound healing. 
IP Reference  
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted
Licensed Yes
Impact This IP was licensed by CoDaTherapeutics Inc. However, I failed to get continued funding from the BBSRC to develop this technology. I dropped this line of research when I moved to Singapore. I believe CoDaTherapeutics then dropped the licence last year. There has recently been several high impact publication relating to CLOCK and wound healing - a shame we did not get the support to continue this work as we were 5 years ahead of the field.