Funded research projects - Debra Ireland
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Our funded research projects

It is our role to increase EB research both in Ireland and across the globe.

We have funded and supported many research initiatives, contributing to a better quality of life for people living with EB.

We work closely alongside researchers, DEBRA International, clinicians and people linked in with us for all our research projects.

Ongoing projects

Epidermolysis bullosa: Development of advanced biomimetic living equivalents (EB-DOABLE)
  • Researcher (s): Prof Dimitrios Zevgolis (PI)
  • Co-Researcher: Dr Hasan Uludag
  • Research Institution: University College Dublin and University of Alberta, Canada
  • Research Area: Cell Therapy
  • Start Date: June 2023
  • End Date: Dec 2023
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and University of Alberta, Canada
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Identifying innate and adaptive immune mechanisms associated with fibrosis in animal models of RDEB
  • Researcher (s): Dr Yanling Liao (Primary Investigator -PI) and Prof Mitchell Cairo (Co-Researcher)
  • Research Institution: New York Medical College, USA
  • Research Area (s): Wound Healing
  • Start Date: July 2020
  • End Date: July 2024
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and UK
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Multimodality targeting of chronic inflammation and fibrosis in epidermolysis bullosa
  • Researcher (s): Prof Andrew South (PI) (on behalf of Prof Rodeck on his passing)
    Dr Alexander Nystrom (Co-researcher)
  • Research Institution: Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, USA and University of Freiburg, Germany
  • Research Area: Wound Healing
  • Start Date: Jan 2021
  • End Date: Jan 2024
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and Austria
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Non-viral Cas12a gene editing approach for RDEB
  • Researcher (s): Prof Wenxin Wang
  • Research Institution: University College Dublin
  • Research Area: Gene Therapy
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • End Date: Apr 2024
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland
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Diagnosis and management of oesophageal strictures in EB patient
  • Researcher (s): Dr May El Hachem and Dr Paola De Angelis
  • Research Institution: Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
  • Research Area: Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Start Date: Oct 2021
  • End Date: Sept 2023
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland
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Epidermolysis Bullosa: An Exploratory Study of Economic and Social Costs Research
  • Researcher (s): Dr Darragh Flannery
  • Research Institution: University of Limerick
  • Research Area: Psychosocial/Advocacy
  • Start Date: January 2022
  • End Date: September 2023
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland
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Eye care for children and adults with Epidermolysis Bullosa: Evidence-based guideline
  • Researcher (s): Dr Michael Bärtschi and Prof Dominique Bremond-Ginac
  • Research Institution: Eyeness AG, Switzerland
  • Research Area: Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Start Date: Apr 2022
  • End Date: May 2024
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland, UK and Switzerland
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The scalp hair follicle as a source of collagen VII-positive
  • Researcher (s): Prof Desmond Tobin (PI)
  • Co-Researcher: Dr Fiona Browne
  • Research Institution: University College Dublin
  • Research Area: Wound Healing
  • Start Date: Oct 2022
  • End Date: Oct 2025
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and UCD Newman Fellow Scholarship
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A nanoparticle-loaded hydrogel for Epidermolysis Bullosa (reGENErate)
  • Researcher (s): Prof Nicholas Dunne (PI)
  • Co-Researcher: Prof Helen McCarthy
  • Research Institution: Dublin City University
  • Research Area: Gene Therapy
  • Start Date: Jan 2023
  • End Date: Jan 2025
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and the Irish Research Council
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A combinatorial approach for pain and wound management in patients with RDEB via a functionalized collagen-based hydrogel dressing with controlled release of painkillers
  • Researcher (s): Prof Wenxin Wang
  • Research Institution: University College Dublin
  • Research Area: Pain Management
  • Start Date: Feb 2023
  • End Date: Feb 2025
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and the Health Research Board
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Gene-activated scaffolds for the treatment of EB
  • Researcher (s): Prof Fergal O’Brien
  • Research Institution: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
  • Research Area: Gene Therapy
  • Start Date: Mar 2023
  • End Date: Aug 2023
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland
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Drug re-purposing for the treatment of RDEB squamous cell carcinoma
  • Researcher (s): Prof Gareth Inman (PI)
  • Co-Researcher: Prof Karen Blyth
  • Research Institution: CRUK Beatson Institute, UK
  • Research Area: Drug Re-purposing
  • Start Date: Mar 2023
  • End Date: Mar 2025
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and UK
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High-retention, lubricating eye drops to enhance quality of life in EB patients
  • Researcher (s): Prof Liam Grover (PI)
  • Co-Researchers: Dr Richard Moakes, Prof Anthony Metcalfe, Dr Seeaha Rauz, Dr Amit Patel, Prof Adrian Heagerty
  • Research Institution: University of Birmingham
  • Research Area: Eye Care
  • Start Date: Mar 2023
  • End Date: Feb 2025
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and UK
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Completed projects

A novel spray delivery system for the treatment of mucosal scarring in epidermolysis bullosa
  • Researcher (s): Prof Liam Grover (PI)
  • Co-Researchers: Prof Anthony Metcalfe, Prof Ian Chapple, Prof Adrian Heagerty
  • Research Institution: University of Birmingham, UK
  • Research Area: Wound Healing
  • Start Date: Sept 2020
  • End Date: Aug 2022
  • Funded by: Debra Ireland and UK
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Burdens and helpful aspects for achieving and maintaining quality of life with epidermolysis bullosa
  • Researcher (s): DDr Gudrun Salamon
  • Research Institution: Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Austria
  • Research Area: Psychosocial/Advocacy
  • Start Date: June 2022
  • End Date: June 2023
  • Funded by: DEBRA Austria and Debra Ireland
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Meet our researchers

Dr Yanling Liao

 

Prof Liam Grover

 

Prof Andrew South

 

Prof Wenxin Wang

 

Dr May El Hachem

 

Dr Darragh Flannery

 

Dr Michael Bärtschi

 

DDr Gudrun Salamon

 

Prof Desmond Tobin

 

Prof Nicholas Dunne

 

Prof Fergal O’Brien

 

Prof Gareth Inman

 

Prof Dimitrios Zevgolis

 

Apply for funding

If are a researcher and/or medical staff who currently work with Debra, and you’d like to apply for funding, please complete the form below.If you have not worked with Debra before, then please submit an Expression of Interest instead.

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