Project Area B: Preprogrammed development

In this project, we concentrate on fibroblasts and their role in immune cell maturation and function. This work is based on seminal discoveries on fetal fibroblast diversity and function, in particular with respect to scarless wound closure in the fetus, and the role of heterocellular interactions between fibroblasts and neutrophils in scar formation.

We explore the impact of fibroblast-immune cell crosstalk on shaping perinatal skin immunity in terms of fibroblast and connective tissue niche development and adaptation, with a particular focus on the dynamics in stress/injury (in vivo fetal/perinatal skin wound models).