Daniel Wehner Receives the ISRB Rising Star Award 2024
Congratulations to Daniel Wehner on receiving the ISRB Rising Star Award 2024
On October 10, 2024, Daniel Wehner was honored with the prestigious Rising Star Award by the International Society for Regenerative Biology (ISRB). This award recognizes emerging scientists who are pioneering new approaches in the field of regenerative biology and whose research has made a lasting impact.
Dr. Wehner, a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light and the Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine in Erlangen, was awarded for his groundbreaking work on fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. His research has provided valuable insights into the biochemical composition and mechanical properties of ECM that support regeneration. The ultimate goal of his studies is to discover how nerve fiber (axon) regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) can be made possible in humans.
Dr. Wehner and his team are investigating why some vertebrate species are able to regenerate their spinal cords after injury, while in humans and other mammals, such injuries often lead to permanent dysfunctions, such as paralysis.
In mammals, including humans, the body responds to injury by forming scar tissue produced by specialized cells called fibroblasts. This scar tissue, made up of ECM deposits, presents a significant barrier to nerve regeneration due to its unfavorable biochemical and mechanical properties. However, zebrafish can regenerate axons across long distances after a spinal cord injury, leading to near-complete restoration of movement. Using advanced optical imaging technologies, molecular biology techniques, and innovative humanized fish models, Dr. Wehner’s research aims to uncover the factors that influence the differences in scar formation across species.
Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Wehner on this outstanding achievement!
Source: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Link to original page.