Research Summary
Healing wounds quickly and effectively is a challenge—especially when the goal is to offer treatments that are accessible, personalized and free of complications like scarring or infection. Dr. Nediljko Budisa, Canada Research Chair in Chemical Synthetic Biology, is developing innovative “bio-glues” made from engineered cells to improve wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Using advanced synthetic biology, Budisa and his research team are creating synthetic adhesive proteins from bacteria and embedding them in 3D-printed collagen scaffolds that speed up healing. They are also engineering next-generation skin substitutes using cells from other mammals to promote scar-free recovery and resist infection. They plan to test these technologies in both lab and clinical settings to produce treatments for all patients, regardless of skin tone, gender or background. This research could transform wound care by enabling faster, more personalized healing.