University of Virginia Physician-Researcher Helping Soldiers as Part of the Armed Forces
Institute of Regenerative
April 18, 2008 — A procedure currently performed all over the world for cosmetic
purposes might also improve wound healing and limb function for soldiers who are
severely hurt and scarred during combat. Dr. Adam Katz, a plastic surgeon and
researcher at the University of Virginia Health System, will conduct research in this area
under the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. White House officials
announced the formation of AFIRM, which has received more than $80 million for
research, on April 17.
Katz, the only Virginia doctor to be a part of AFIRM, will study the use of fat grafting to
improve the healing of wounds and severe burns and to minimize their associated
scarring. In one envisioned study, burn patients who have received skin grafts will
receive an autologous fat transplant, in which their own fat tissue will be harvested,
cleaned and re-injected beneath the skin-grafted area. Katz believes the skin grafts
may heal better with the placement of fat grafts, reducing and/or remodeling scar
formation and mitigating scar contractures (tightness) that can limit the motion of limbs.
“Traditionally, fat grafting has been used to fill wrinkles or augment lips and other
similar structures. More recently, a growing a number of physicians have noticed that fat
grafting seems to have beneficial effects on surrounding tissue. Even more, recent
published literature suggests that injecting fat around a wound helps it to heal better,”
said Katz. “My goal now is to systematically and rigorously examine the potential effects
of fat grafting on wound healing and scarring using controlled, blinded prospective
studies to see if an old procedure can be used in a new way.”
Katz’s research also has a second component. He will extract and concentrate stem
cells from fat tissue and explore their use (with or without biocompatible scaffolds) to
engineer new skin or soft tissue to replace damaged dermis and subcutaneous layers of
the skin. Katz believes that when soldiers receive materials made from their own cells,
they won’t reject the implanted skin or tissue.
“I have read statistics about amputations and have seen the disfiguring scars that our
soldiers carry. It’s clear that they are surviving more than they did in previous conflicts
because of technology and state-of-the-art emergency medical care, but they are
experiencing significant morbidities and functional deficits in terms of damaged and/or
lost limbs and disfiguring facial trauma that results from explosive devices,” Katz said. “I
feel extremely privileged to be a part of this extensive and concerted effort to improve
the lives and futures of our soldiers when they come off the battlefield.”
AFIRM is comprised of two civilian research consortiums working with the U.S. Army
Institute of Surgical Research. Each consortia has been awarded $42.5 million to be
distributed among member institutions, including the U.Va. Health System. U.Va. Health
System is part of the Rutgers University and the Cleveland Clinic Consortium.
Contact:
Abena Foreman-Trice
Health System Media Relations
(434) 243-2734
anf2n@Virginia.EDU
Institute of Regenerative
April 18, 2008 — A procedure currently performed all over the world for cosmetic
purposes might also improve wound healing and limb function for soldiers who are
severely hurt and scarred during combat. Dr. Adam Katz, a plastic surgeon and
researcher at the University of Virginia Health System, will conduct research in this area
under the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine. White House officials
announced the formation of AFIRM, which has received more than $80 million for
research, on April 17.
Katz, the only Virginia doctor to be a part of AFIRM, will study the use of fat grafting to
improve the healing of wounds and severe burns and to minimize their associated
scarring. In one envisioned study, burn patients who have received skin grafts will
receive an autologous fat transplant, in which their own fat tissue will be harvested,
cleaned and re-injected beneath the skin-grafted area. Katz believes the skin grafts
may heal better with the placement of fat grafts, reducing and/or remodeling scar
formation and mitigating scar contractures (tightness) that can limit the motion of limbs.
“Traditionally, fat grafting has been used to fill wrinkles or augment lips and other
similar structures. More recently, a growing a number of physicians have noticed that fat
grafting seems to have beneficial effects on surrounding tissue. Even more, recent
published literature suggests that injecting fat around a wound helps it to heal better,”
said Katz. “My goal now is to systematically and rigorously examine the potential effects
of fat grafting on wound healing and scarring using controlled, blinded prospective
studies to see if an old procedure can be used in a new way.”
Katz’s research also has a second component. He will extract and concentrate stem
cells from fat tissue and explore their use (with or without biocompatible scaffolds) to
engineer new skin or soft tissue to replace damaged dermis and subcutaneous layers of
the skin. Katz believes that when soldiers receive materials made from their own cells,
they won’t reject the implanted skin or tissue.
“I have read statistics about amputations and have seen the disfiguring scars that our
soldiers carry. It’s clear that they are surviving more than they did in previous conflicts
because of technology and state-of-the-art emergency medical care, but they are
experiencing significant morbidities and functional deficits in terms of damaged and/or
lost limbs and disfiguring facial trauma that results from explosive devices,” Katz said. “I
feel extremely privileged to be a part of this extensive and concerted effort to improve
the lives and futures of our soldiers when they come off the battlefield.”
AFIRM is comprised of two civilian research consortiums working with the U.S. Army
Institute of Surgical Research. Each consortia has been awarded $42.5 million to be
distributed among member institutions, including the U.Va. Health System. U.Va. Health
System is part of the Rutgers University and the Cleveland Clinic Consortium.
Contact:
Abena Foreman-Trice
Health System Media Relations
(434) 243-2734
anf2n@Virginia.EDU
U.Va. News
News Releases
News by Category
U.Va. Profiles
Faculty Opinion
News Videos
Headlines @ U.Va.
Inside U.Va.
Announcements
For Faculty/Stafff
Accolades
Off the Shelf
In Memoriam
For Journalists
All Publications
About Us
Subscribe To
UVA This Week
Headlines @ U.Va.
RSS News Feeds
Podcasts/Vodcasts
Search U.Va. News
News Releases
News by Category
U.Va. Profiles
Faculty Opinion
News Videos
Headlines @ U.Va.
Inside U.Va.
Announcements
For Faculty/Stafff
Accolades
Off the Shelf
In Memoriam
For Journalists
All Publications
About Us
Subscribe To
UVA This Week
Headlines @ U.Va.
RSS News Feeds
Podcasts/Vodcasts
Search U.Va. News
| http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=4960 |