Until last year, the only tools to treat the group of inherited mechanical bullous diseases epidermolysis bullosa (EB) were supportive measures, but we were helpless to stop blisters; we could only watch them form without being able to do anything. However, research into EB has been recently proceeding at an exponential pace. Now, with the approval of a topical gene therapy that delivers the collagen VII gene directly into patient skin, we finally have a corrective rather than supportive therapy to reverse the fragility and blistering of dystrophic EB. Further refinement and improvements in correcting EB is an incremental process that will be achieved step by step. Localized corrective gene therapy for dystrophic EB moved us forward, but many more steps are needed for permanent systemic correction of all EB subtypes. However, there is much optimism that we will get there. Work done over many years of EB research has laid the foundation for many discoveries yet to come. 

Please join in person or on Zoom https://auckland.zoom.us/j/93789394799

Host: Hilary Sheppard (h.sheppard@auckland.ac.nz) 

School of Biological Sciences Seminar Series 2024