Innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic wounds

A collaboration between the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, INAIL, Auxilium Vitae and the University of Pisa could radically change the diagnosis, management and treatment of chronic wounds. The WOUND research project aims to develop new technologies to accelerate the healing of chronic wounds, a problem that affects a large number of people and entails significant costs for the healthcare system (one billion euros per year in Italy alone). The project is technically supported by Inail and involves Emanuele Gruppioni, Research Director at the Prosthetics Centre, and Elisa Taglione, Medical Director of the Motor Rehabilitation Centre in Volterra.

"Thanks to the promising results obtained and the collaboration with leading clinical centres, we have the opportunity to be the first in the world to offer quantitative diagnostic systems and new therapeutic technologies that will have a truly significant impact on patients suffering from chronic wounds. Thanks to fruitful collaboration between bioengineers and clinicians, we are confident that we will achieve world-class results that will have a major impact on the health of many people" said Leonardo Ricotti and Andrea Cafarelli, respectively professor and assistant professor at the Regenerative Technologies Lab of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, who are leading the WOUND project.

Chronic wounds: what they are and how many people they affect

Chronic wounds are a growing challenge for public health. The most common are pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers and complicated post-surgical wounds. It is estimated that over 2 million people in Europe live with a chronic wound, a number that is set to increase with the ageing population and the rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes. The impact on the healthcare system is significant: these wounds require continuous care, increase the risk of serious infections and prolong hospital stays, generating high costs and reducing patients' quality of life.

The next goal: the clinical translation of new technologies

The technical meeting, which took place at the Institute of BioRobotics at the Sant'Anna School, was an opportunity to outline the next objectives of the project. Over the last year and a half, the Regenerative Technologies Lab at the BioRobotics Institute has successfully developed and tested in the laboratory a number of technologies such as ultrasonic and electromagnetic stimulation systems, smart patches for innovative therapies, and data processing systems that can be used for advanced and quantitative diagnostics. In the coming months, the focus will be on the clinical translation of some of these technologies, thanks to the staff of the INAIL Motor Rehabilitation Centre in Volterra, Auxilium Vitae Volterra and the Dermatology Unit of the University of Pisa.

"WOUND is a complex and challenging project, characterised by a strongly interdisciplinary approach, which aims to make the treatment of difficult wounds more targeted and personalised, and therefore more effective. Thanks to research into the wound healing process, we expect to be able to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools that can be transferred to clinical practice" said Elisa Taglione, medical director of the Inail Motor Rehabilitation Centre in Volterra.

"We are delighted to be participating in this project, which requires the joint efforts of several researchers and healthcare professionals to resolve one of the most pressing issues affecting the recovery and rehabilitation of complex patients with pressure injuries" said Loredana Voci, Director of the Auxilum Vitae Volterra Neurological Unit.
 

"The WOUND research project integrates clinical and laboratory expertise that will make interesting contributions to the management of difficult-to-heal wounds. Dermatologists are at the forefront of the complex care management of patients with skin lesions, and we are therefore eager to offer our experience in the field to achieve innovative results" says Marco Romanelli, full professor of Dermatology at the University of Pisa and director of the dermatology clinic at the Pisa University Hospital.

The research team involved in the project

The WOUND project involves professionals from medical and scientific research backgrounds: Leonardo Ricotti, Andrea Cafarelli, Bianca Cioni, Giorgia Romano, Francesco Iacoponi, Angela Sorriento, Francesco Nocilla, Carlotta Pucci, Erika Roventini, Sofia Sirolli, Mattia Biagi, and Alessandra Coviello are involved on behalf of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies; Elisa Taglione, Daniele Onnis, Ilaria Creatini, Silvia Bianchi, Antonio Miceli, Monica Baldi and Ilaria Cabizzosu are participating in the project on behalf of the INAIL Motor Rehabilitation Centre in Volterra. Loredana Voci, Aurora Grandoli and Samuele Bigazzi are participating on behalf of Auxilium Vitae. Marco Romanelli and Alessandra Michelucci are participating on behalf of the Dermatology Unit of the University of Pisa.