Lab Mission
Our current work involves: Exploring the role of endogenous stem cells in wound healing and angiogenesis.
The lab is exploring methods to accelerate and improve the quality of wound healing using DNA plasmid vectors to deliver peptide growth factors/transcription factors to the wound.
The lab is exploring methods to accelerate and improve the quality of wound healing using DNA plasmid vectors to deliver peptide growth factors/transcription factors to the wound.
Current specific goals are:
1. Optimizing electroporation to improve transfection efficiency for DNA expression vectors
2. Exploring the use of biogels to promote regeneration rather than scar formation in wounds
3. Utilizing bone marrow derived angiogenic cells as an endogenous stem cell based strategy to promote wound healing
4. Developing a digital camera with 3D capacity to monitor wound closure
5. Characterizing the deficit in wound healing associated with diabetes
6. Using that information to develop strategies for improving wound healing in diabetic patients
7. Characterizing the deficit in wound healing associated with aging and using that information to improve wound healing in the elderly
8. Exploring a new approach of combining DNA plasmid transfection with the use of endogenous stem cell based strategies.
Another new direction in the lab is the use of bio-gels to promote tissue regeneration. Healing of burns and other dermal wounds with a scar is not ideal. The scar is inadequate cosmetically, can impede function of joints, and is not durable. If normal full thickness dermis could be regenerated, the overall result would be far superior. The lab is now pursuing promising strategies to achieve regeneration, rather than healing by scarring for burn wounds in a rodent model.
The Harmon lab has spawned a biotechnology startup, Canton Biotechnologies Inc.. Canton is currently embedded in Johns Hopkins University.
Its mission is to commercialize wound healing strategies discovered by the Harmon Lab.
1. Optimizing electroporation to improve transfection efficiency for DNA expression vectors
2. Exploring the use of biogels to promote regeneration rather than scar formation in wounds
3. Utilizing bone marrow derived angiogenic cells as an endogenous stem cell based strategy to promote wound healing
4. Developing a digital camera with 3D capacity to monitor wound closure
5. Characterizing the deficit in wound healing associated with diabetes
6. Using that information to develop strategies for improving wound healing in diabetic patients
7. Characterizing the deficit in wound healing associated with aging and using that information to improve wound healing in the elderly
8. Exploring a new approach of combining DNA plasmid transfection with the use of endogenous stem cell based strategies.
Another new direction in the lab is the use of bio-gels to promote tissue regeneration. Healing of burns and other dermal wounds with a scar is not ideal. The scar is inadequate cosmetically, can impede function of joints, and is not durable. If normal full thickness dermis could be regenerated, the overall result would be far superior. The lab is now pursuing promising strategies to achieve regeneration, rather than healing by scarring for burn wounds in a rodent model.
The Harmon lab has spawned a biotechnology startup, Canton Biotechnologies Inc.. Canton is currently embedded in Johns Hopkins University.
Its mission is to commercialize wound healing strategies discovered by the Harmon Lab.