Principal Investigator:
Maranke Koster, PhD
East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine
Overview:
Patients affected by TP63-related ectodermal dysplasias (AEC & EEC) suffer from skin erosions, large wounds that do not heal normally. In many patients, healing of these large erosions can take 15-20 years, and some wounds never heal. Our knowledge of the dynamic behavior of these wounds is very limited, as wounds in this population have not been followed over time. We don’t know how wounds normally heal, how long it takes for individual wounds to heal, if wounds recur in the same areas, or how often new wounds develop. This study will fill this gap in knowledge by measuring the area and volume of wounds in patients (every 2 weeks) over the course of one year. To image wounds and perform measurements, we will use the Ekare InSight app, which is designed to be user-friendly, and can be used at home by research subjects to image wounds. 20 subjects affected will be enrolled. Participants will use iPhones provided to them to photograph their wounds at home using the Ekare InSight app. Photographs of wounds will be uploaded to the Ekare HIPAA-compliant cloud-based service, where they will be analyzed by our research team. By measuring wound area and wound volume at each timepoint, we will determine wound healing dynamics over time. Data will provide a benchmark for natural wound healing in patients affected by TP63-related ectodermal dysplasias, and is essential for the interpretation of the effectiveness of future therapeutic interventions for the P63 community and conditions with wound healing challenges.
Status:
Active study design. More information coming soon.
