Damage and Repair

This theme investigates how tissues respond to inflammatory injury and the long-term effects of chronic inflammation.

Researchers study the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tissue damage, repair, and regeneration across organs such as the liver, kidney, lung, and skin. 

A key focus is understanding how chronic inflammation contributes to human diseases like chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, skin chronic wounds, pulmonary fibrosis and cancer, including the roles of ageing cells, impaired repair, dysregulation of immune cells, and cell interactions that lead to scarring. Using advanced tools to study individual cells and their locations in the body, our research helps reveal promising targets for future therapies. 

Key areas of focus

  • Long-term (chronic) inflammation  
  • Consequences of inflammation 
  • Chronic inflammation in the context of autoimmunity 
  • Tissue repair and regeneration 
  • Damage or injury to tissue 
  • Application to liver, kidney, lung, skin and cancer 
  • Advanced tools to study individual cells and their locations within tissues, in both human samples and preclinical models 
  • Identifying therapeutic targets to treat diseases caused by chronic inflammation and improper healing of tissues

Theme Leads

Prakash Ramachandran and Sonja Vermeren

Immunofluorescence image of a diabetic foot ulcer.
Immunofluorescence image of a diabetic foot ulcer (credit: Dr Jenna Cash)

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