Dermatology researcher awarded multi-million grant to study severe wound disease
Clinical Professor and Chair Christian Vestergaard from the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Dermatology at Aarhus University Hospital has received a grant of DKK 3.5 million from The LEO Foundation to support research into the rare skin condition pyoderma gangrenosum.
It often begins as a small lump, pimple or red patch, but can rapidly develop into a large, open and extremely painful skin ulcer. In a new project, researchers will map the molecular profile of the severe wound condition pyoderma gangrenosum, which frequently affects patients with other inflammatory diseases. The aim is to improve diagnostics, understand the underlying disease mechanisms, and identify new therapeutic targets.
According to Christian Vestergaard, the condition remains insufficiently understood, and diagnosis can be difficult, delaying appropriate treatment.
“Pyoderma gangrenosum is extremely under-researched, and we know very little about how the disease develops or why it is associated with other inflammatory conditions. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure patients receive the correct treatment,” he says.
The grant will be used to appoint a postdoctoral researcher in the dermatology department’s research unit, as well as to conduct mouse studies and advanced molecular biological analyses.
The research project will be carried out in collaboration with Clinical Professor Claus Johansen from the Department of Clinical Medicine and Associate Professor Søren Degn from the Department of Biomedicine.
Contact
Clinical Professor and Chair Christian Vestergaard
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Dermatology
Telephone: +45 26 18 81 32
Email: christian.vestergaard@clin.au.dk