Dissecting the molecular mechanisms and players in epidermal wound closure

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sven Bogdan
• Subject Area: Cell Biology ; Developmental Biology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 543757050

Drosophila has emerged as a valuable genetic model for studying how a simple epithelium seals upon tissue damage. Calcium is a well-known ubiquitous second messenger and the very first “damage” signal following cellular and multicellular wounding. However, it is not yet clear how wound-induced calcium signals are initiated and how calcium drives rapid epithelial wound closure as well as immune responses in vivo. We will use our recently established Drosophila wounding model system to combine high-resolution live-cell microscopy and genetics to test this hypothesis and to define the conserved molecular events and players driving epidermal wound closure and how immune cells contribute to the wound healing process and epidermal tissue morphogenesis.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants