Jianjie Ma, PhD, discusses a novel monoclonal antibody that enhances healing of diabetic wounds.

Jianjie Ma, PhD,
Transcript:
My passion for research stems from the joy of working together with a team of complementary expertise where a ripple of small ideas can mature into a deeper understanding of the human physiology.
I am Jianjie Ma, a professor in the Department of Surgery at UVA. As director of the Division of Surgical Sciences, I interact with both surgeons, scientists and basic researchers striving to build a future of dreams where academia, medicine seamlessly translates into human medications.
My laboratory research is focused on regenerative medicine, aging biology, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and cancer therapy.
One area of focus is to develop a cure for diabetic foot ulcer, which is a severe complication of diabetes, often necessitating amputation. We have a novel monoclonal antibody that reduces inflammation and enhances healing of diabetic wounds. We have also humanized this antibody, making it ready for clinical use. We are collaborating currently with Licensing and Ventures group at the UVA to engage with the FDA and establish a partnership with the pharmaceutical industry for commercialization of this groundbreaking technology.