The discovery and development of new therapeutic treatments for the improvement of scarring

Scarring is a major cause of physical and psychological morbidity and, whilst a variety of model systems exist that have increased our understanding of the pathways and processes underlying scar formation, they have typically not translated to the development of effective therapeutic approaches for scar management. In this chapter we describe the basic science underlying both scar-free and scar-forming healing, as well as the utility and translation of pre-clinical model systems to humans. Finally we outline our pioneering approach to the discovery and development of therapeutic approaches for the prophylactic improvement of scarring in man.