Stony Brook Team Secures $696,431 for Innovative Wound Care Research

A research team at Stony Brook Medicine has been awarded two significant grants totaling $696,431 to advance their innovative approach to wound care. Led by Gurtej Singh, Research Associate Professor of Surgery at the Renaissance School of Medicine, this funding will build on prior seed grants and support ongoing research into tissue regeneration and enhanced healing methods for patients with serious injuries.

The awards consist of $646,431 from The Mathers Foundation and $50,000 from the Technology Accelerator Fund. This funding is pivotal for Singh’s team, which has already garnered recognition by winning the Life Sciences category in the 2024 Venture Champions Challenge hosted by the Long Island High Tech Incubator.

Support for Pioneering Research

The Department of Surgery at Stony Brook has played a crucial role in facilitating early-stage research through seed grants awarded in 2017 and 2019. Chair of the Department, Apostolos Tassiopoulos, MD, emphasized the importance of these investments, stating, “The grants awarded to Dr. Singh and his team are a testament of the importance of these investments. This support will empower the research team to continue pursuing innovative ideas and enhance cross-departmental collaborations.”

Singh expressed gratitude for the foundational support, noting that the previous seed grants were instrumental in acquiring a 3D bioprinter and generating essential data on vascularized skin constructs. He stated, “That early support made this line of research possible and directly contributed to the success of our Mathers Foundation grant.”

Next Steps and Future Innovations

The newly secured funding will enable Singh and his team to delve deeper into the biological mechanisms of inosculation and refine their designs for vascularized scaffolds. In a notable development, Stony Brook University’s Intellectual Property Partners recently filed a utility patent related to the team’s vascularized skin construct design, signaling a significant move towards commercialization.

“Our culture of collaboration between clinical and basic sciences is driving transformative research,” Singh remarked, highlighting the integration of various disciplines within the institution.

This robust support for innovative wound care solutions underscores Stony Brook Medicine’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and enhancing patient care. As the research progresses, it may pave the way for groundbreaking therapies that address the needs of individuals facing severe injuries.

For more insights and updates, visit the Stony Brook Medicine Surgery blog.