RMIP Research Spotlight - Dr. Anya (Ganna) Bilousova
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Jeran Stratford
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1 day ago
Join us for the next RMIP Research Spotlight featuring Dr. Anya (Ganna) Bilousova of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
RMIP Research Spotlight on Friday, February 27th at 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Register Today!
Dr. Anya (Ganna) Bilousova, is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Director of the Stem Cell Biobank and Disease Modeling Core at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her research focuses on development of stem cell- and exosome-based therapies for skin and connective tissue diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She has pioneered high-efficiency RNA-based reprogramming and differentiation methods, advanced organotypic skin and cell therapy models, enabling patient-specific, gene-corrected regenerative approaches. Working at the intersection of basic science, clinical dermatology, and biomanufacturing, her program emphasizes scalable, autologous therapies and thorough preclinical validation to develop translational regenerative approaches for previously untreatable conditions.
Presentation Abstract: No effective treatments are available for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of rare inherited skin blistering disorders that can be devastating, and in some cases lethal. Current therapies are palliative and focus on promoting wound healing, nutritional support, and treating complications as early as possible. EB is caused by mutations in COL7A1, leading to absence or deficiency of functional collagen VII (Col7), an integral component in the adhesion of epithelia to dermis in the skin and mucous membranes. This research establishes a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell platform to correct COL7A1 mutations and generate autologous, gene-corrected keratinocytes and fibroblasts that restore type VII collagen expression. The development of this therapy was made possible through a close collaboration between researchers and clinicians, including Dr. Dennis Roop (Ph.D., Professor of Dermatology), Igor Kogut (Ph.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology), and Anna Bruckner (M.D., Professor of Dermatology). Using optimized reprogramming, gene-editing, and differentiation workflows, the work produced scalable protocols for generating COL7A1-expressing skin cells suitable for organotypic grafting and in vivo testing. Together, these advances lay the foundation for durable, autologous gene and cell therapies for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa that directly address the underlying molecular defect.
Jeran Stratford
Join us for the next RMIP Research Spotlight featuring Dr. Anya (Ganna) Bilousova of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
RMIP Research Spotlight on Friday, February 27th at 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Register Today!
Dr. Anya (Ganna) Bilousova, is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Director of the Stem Cell Biobank and Disease Modeling Core at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her research focuses on development of stem cell- and exosome-based therapies for skin and connective tissue diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She has pioneered high-efficiency RNA-based reprogramming and differentiation methods, advanced organotypic skin and cell therapy models, enabling patient-specific, gene-corrected regenerative approaches. Working at the intersection of basic science, clinical dermatology, and biomanufacturing, her program emphasizes scalable, autologous therapies and thorough preclinical validation to develop translational regenerative approaches for previously untreatable conditions.
Presentation Abstract: No effective treatments are available for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of rare inherited skin blistering disorders that can be devastating, and in some cases lethal. Current therapies are palliative and focus on promoting wound healing, nutritional support, and treating complications as early as possible. EB is caused by mutations in COL7A1, leading to absence or deficiency of functional collagen VII (Col7), an integral component in the adhesion of epithelia to dermis in the skin and mucous membranes. This research establishes a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell platform to correct COL7A1 mutations and generate autologous, gene-corrected keratinocytes and fibroblasts that restore type VII collagen expression. The development of this therapy was made possible through a close collaboration between researchers and clinicians, including Dr. Dennis Roop (Ph.D., Professor of Dermatology), Igor Kogut (Ph.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology), and Anna Bruckner (M.D., Professor of Dermatology). Using optimized reprogramming, gene-editing, and differentiation workflows, the work produced scalable protocols for generating COL7A1-expressing skin cells suitable for organotypic grafting and in vivo testing. Together, these advances lay the foundation for durable, autologous gene and cell therapies for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa that directly address the underlying molecular defect.