The Wound Healing Foundation is pleased to offer recognition to deserving scientists and clinicians in the field of wound healing. The purpose of the Foundation scientific merit awards and travel scholarships is to recognize and reward deserving wound healing researchers by facilitating their attendance at meetings such as the WHS annual meeting. The WHF recognizes the importance of furthering research in the area of wound healing. By assisting top researchers and facilitating the presentation and scientific discussion of new discoveries, we strive to encourage and mentor young scientists professional growth.
These monetary awards and scholarships are used to offset travel and professional development expenses. The awards are presented at the Friday WHF Awards Session of the WHS annual meeting or at other events.
The goal for this program is to award scholarships between $250 and $1,000 depending on availability and research quality. Help a deserving wound healing researcher attend a scientific meeting by going to our donate page to make a donation today.
A limited number of travel scholarships will be available for 2020 meetings. Submitted applications will be considered and awards will be made based on submission, scientific merit, rationale and availability of funds.
Travel scholarships are made possible in part by financial support from our sponsors and personal donations.
WHF Travel Award recipients Li Bian and Nandini Ghosh, WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell, eKare Inc Representative Kevin Wu, WHF Travel Award recipients Nicholas Clay, Amita Das and Mohammed Ashrafi. Jessica Eager not pictured. eKare Inc underwrote the travel awards for these six young wound researchers attending and presenting at the 2019 WHS annual meeting.
Joćo Cardeira da Silva, PhD received the Wound Healing Foundation Junior Science Scholarship at the 2019 Gordon Research Conference in New London, NH.
WHF President Laura Parnell, Maximilian Kückelhaus with the WHF Impact Award, and WHF VP Research Manuela Martins-Green.
WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell, 2018 WHF-3M Recognition travel award recipient Alessandra Moore, 3M representative Matt Cooper, and WHF VP of Research and WHF Awards Chair Manuela Martins-Green.
WHF President Laura Parnell, Chandan Sen, and 2018 Travel scholarship recipient Kanhaiya Singh.
2018 Travel scholarship recipient Mariėlle Walraven and WHF President Laura Parnell.
Chandan Sen, WHF President Laura Parnell, and 2017 Travel scholarship recipient Mohamed El Masry.
2017 Travel scholarship recipient Jeffery Kwock, MD and WHF President Laura Parnell.
2016 WHF Travel Scholarship recipient Dimitris Karamichos, PhD gave an oral presentation on his wound healing research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Seattle, Washington this May.
2015 Oral abstract WHF Travel awardees receiving scholarships and recognition at the WHS business meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Sina Nassiri, Vivekanada Sunkari, WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell and Shomita Mathew-Steiner. Photo courtesy of Peter Abadir.
2014 WHS Poster winners for the WHF Travel awards receiving scholarships and recognition at the WHS business meeting in Orlando, Florida. WHS President Paul Y. Liu, Donald Reese, Yalini Vigneswaran, Monika Vinish, WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell, and WHS Awards chair Ken Liechty. Photo courtesy of Laura K. S. Parnell.
2014 Oral abstract WHF Travel awardees receiving scholarships and recognition at the WHS business meeting in Orlando, Florida. WHS President Paul Y. Liu, Michael Wetzel, Jisook Lee, Ana Luisa Alves Tellechea and WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell. Photo courtesy of Laura K. S. Parnell.
First International awarded 2015 Oral abstract WHF Travel award and recognition at the WHS business meeting in San Antonio, Texas. WHF President Laura K. S. Parnell and Gary Sidwick. Photo courtesy of Peter Abadir.
2020 Junior Faculty Daniel Gibson, PhD University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
"A Systems Biology Approach To Improved Grouping, Timing, And Statistical Power In The WISH Study Patient Population Of Chronic Wounds"
Sponsor: Joyce K. Stechmiller, RN, PhD
2020 Translational Regenerative Science Lisa Tucker-Kellogg, PhD Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
"Deferoxamine Improves Wound Healing In A Mouse Model Of Delayed Healing From Pressure Injury"
Michelle Griffin, PhD University College London, London, United Kingdom
"Lipotransfer Effectively Reverses Skin Fibrosis"
Sponsor: Peter Butler, MD
2020 Young Investigator Award Winners & Nominees Young Investigator Award WinnerAayushi Uberoi
Commensal Microbiota Regulates Skin Barrier Function And Repair Via Signaling Through The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor
Young Investigator Award Finalists Janos Berrera
Digit Tip Regeneration Relies On Germ Layer Restricted Wnt And Hedgehog Signaling
Joseph Kuhn
Human Nrf2-Active Multipotent Stromal Cell Exosomes Reverse Pathologic Diabetic Wound Healing
Christopher Turner
Granzyme B Contributes To Pressure Injury Severity In Aged Skin
Young Investigator Award Nominees Trevor Leonardo
Human Tissue Repair And Regeneration - Regulatory Landscapes In Response To Injury
Nava Rijal
Theoretical-Experimental Approach To Develop Electrotherapy For Diabetic Wound Healing
Alvaro Villerreal Ponce
Epidermal Nrf2 Orchestrates Tissue Regeneration Through Regulation Of Ccl2
Alvaro Villarreal Ponce, PhD NYU Langone Health, New York City, NY
"Epidermal Nrf2 Orchestrates Tissue Regeneration Through Regulation Of Ccl2"
2020 Trainee Travel Award Sara Ud-Din, BSc, MSc University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
"Quantitative Assessment Of Anatomical, Physiological And Mechanical Parameters Of Cutaneous Wound Healing And Scarring In Human Skin"
Sponsor: Ardeshir Bayat, MD
Kanhaiya Singh, PhD Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
"Single-cell RNA-sequencing Identifies Novel Molecular Targets Of Endothelial MicroRNA-200b In Ischemic Wound"
Sponsor: Chandan K. Sen, PhD
Meiling Melzer Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
"Beta-catenin Activation In Cardiac Fibroblasts Modulates The Immune Micro-environment To Promote Fibrosis And Heart Failure Following Chronic Injury"
Sponsor: Sarika Saraswati, PhD
Nandini Ghosh, PhD Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
"Host Skin Lipids Enable Biofilm Pathogenicity Compromising Functional Cutaneous Wound Closure"
Sponsor: Chandan K. Sen, PhD
Jane Kim, BS University of California, Riverside, CA
"High Levels Of Os Are Critical For Bacterial Biofilm-Development In Diabetic Chronic Wounds"
Sponsor: Manuela Martins-Green, PhD
Jake Jones, BS University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
"Deep Learning For Automated Segmentation Of Skin Wounds"
Sponsor: Kyle Quinn, PhD
Imran Khan Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
"Host Biofilm Interaction In Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma"
Sponsor: Chandan K. Sen, PhD
Sydney Resnik University of Miami, Miami, FL
"Comparative Transcriptomics Of Human Diabetic Foot Ulcers And Diabetic Mouse Wounds Reveals Limited Overlap"
Sponsor: Marjana Tomic-Canic, PhD
Laurice Flowers, PhD University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
"The Interaction Of Microbial Virulence With Age Alters The Keratinocyte Wound Healing And Inflammatory Response"
Sponsor: Elizabeth Grice, PhD
Hira Butt University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
"Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Primed Human WhartonS Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Seeded Hydrogel Construct Improves Healing Of Thermal Burns"
Sponsor: Sheikh Riazuddin, PhD
2020 Industrial Research Poster Finalist Katie Mowry, PhD Organogenesis Inc, Birmingham, AL
"Clinical Trial Evaluating Changes In The Wound Microenvironment In Patients With Vlus Treated With A Hypothermically Stored Amniotic Membrane"
Priya Niranjan, PhD Swiss American CDMO, Carrollton, TX
"Novel Role Of Proteases In Wound Healing"
Victoria Stefanelli, PhD Integra LifeSciences, Plainsboro, NJ
"Favorable Modulation Of Inflammation And Immunity Is Achieved With Both Single And Tri-layer Amniotic Membrane Allografts"
Jon Senkowsky, MD Texas Health Physician's group, Arlington, TX
"A Non-contact Device For Quick Screening Of Wound Infections In Chronic Wound Patients"
Sponsor: Progenitec Inc., Arlington, TX
Katie Mowry, PhD Organogenesis Inc, Birmingham, AL
"Effect Of Dehydrated Amnion Chorion Membranes On Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro"
Eric Roche, PhD Smith+Nephew, Fort Worth, TX
"Superior Debridement By A Novel Enzyme Versus Autolytic Comparators In A Porcine Wound Model With Eschar"
Sadanori Akita, PhD Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
"Fatty Acid Potassium Had Beneficial Bactericidal And Biofilms Removal Effects With Reduced Cytotoxicity Of Fibroblasts And Keratinocytes"
Sponsor: Fukuoka Industrial technology Center, Fukuoka, Japan
Vimal Jacob Smith & Nephew, Columbia, MD
"Structural And Functional Equivalency Between Lyopreserved And Cryopreserved Chorions With Viable Cells"
Hilary Xu Alkahest Inc., San Carlos, CA
"Human Plasma Fraction Improves Diabetic Wound Healing In Mice"
Yong Mao, PhD Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
"Exosomes Mediate Anti-Fibrotic Effects Of Placental Membranes"
Sponsor: Smith & Nephew, Columbia, MD
Dolly K. Khona Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
"Wireless Electroceutical Dressing Is Effective In Managing Candida Albicans Yeast Infection"
Sponsor: Vomaris Wound Care, Inc., Tempe, AZ
Joćo Cardeira da Silva, PhD
Sponsor: Didier Stainier, PhD
Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany De- and reconstructing the immune response during zebrafish cardiac regeneration
Nandini Ghosh, PhD
Sponsor: Chandan Sen, PhD
Indiana University Center for Regenerative Medicine & Engineering, Indianapolis, IN Biofilm Infection Dysregulates Ceramide Metabolism Compromising Functional Wound Closure Of The Skin
Mohammed Ashrafi, MD
Sponsor: Adreshir Bayet, MD, PhD
Manchester University, Manchester, UK A Microbiome And Metabolomic Signature Of Phases Of Cutaneous Healing Identified By Profiling Sequential Acute Wounds Of Human Skin
Amitava Das, PhD
Sponsor: Sahwati Roy, PhD
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN Low Microrna-21 In Diabetic Wound Macrophages Impair Resolution Of Inflammation
Li Bian, PhD
Sponsor: Xiao-Jing Wang, PhD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO Smad7 Ameliorates TGF?-mediated Skin Inflammation And Associated Wound Healing Defects
Jessica M. Eager, PhD
Sponsor: Kara L. Spiller, PhD
School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA Gene Expression Analysis Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Debrided Tissue For Predicting Responsiveness To Treatments
Nicholas E. Clay, PhD
US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX A Plasma-alginate Composite Material Provides Improved Mechanical Support For Stem Cell Growth And Delivery
Maximilian Kückelhaus, MD
WHF Impact Award
BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany Regeneration of the entire human epidermis using transgenic stem cells
Alessandra Moore, MD
Stanford University Establishing scarless healing in adult skin fibroblasts using CRISPR-Cas9 gene targeting
Michelle Bach, PhD
Sponsor: Paul L. Bollyky, MD, D Phil
Stanford University Pf Phage In Chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Wound Infections
Kanhaiya Singh, PhD
Sponsor: Chandan K Sen, PhD
Ohio State University Epigenetic Mapping Of Wound Edge From Chronic Wound Patients Using Next Generation Sequencing
Mariėlle Walraven, PhD
Sponsor Boris Hinz
University of Toronto Mechanical Education In Vitro Enhances Regenerative Capacities Of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vivo
Swathi Balaji , Ph.D. & Vivekananda Sunkari, Ph.D
Sponsor: Paul L. Bollyky, M.D., D.Phil.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Regulatory t-cells potentiate wound repair and augment diabetic wound healing
Gary Sidwick, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Ardeshir Bayat, Ph.D.
University of Manchester Comparative analysis of proteomic and whole genome microarray datasets in both keloid and normal skin tissue and fibroblasts
Sina Nassiri, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Kara L. Spiller, Ph.D.
Drexel University A macrophage phenotype-related expression ratio predicts healing outcome in human chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a preliminary study
Shomita Mathew-Steiner, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Chandan K. Sen, Ph.D.
Ohio State University Wound healing in the Ossabaw model of obesity and pre-metabolic syndrome
Ana Luisa Alves Tellechea, Pharm. D.
Sponsor: Aristidis Veves, M.D., D.Sc.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Mast cell stabilization: A potential treatment for diabetic foot ulcers
Michael Januszyk, M.D.
Sponsor: Geoff Gurtner, M.D.
Stanford University Mechanical modulation of wound healing via cell-matrix interaction and control of inflammatory pathways in a large animal model
Jisook Lee, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Brian P. Eliceiri, Ph.D.
University of San Diego, Department of Surgery Next generation animal models for injury research using mice transplanted with a human hemato-lymphoid system: Injury-induced human leuckocyte mobilization
Michael D. Wetzel, Ph.D.
Sponsor: Celeste C. Finnerty, M.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch Novel effects of biguanide drugs on reducing hyperglycemia in burn patients through alteration of oxidative respiratory pathway
Monika Vinish, Ph.D.
University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Anesthesiology Dendritic cells in regulation of burn wound healing
Graham Walmsley
Sponsor: Michael Longaker, M.D., M.B.A.
Stanford University Live fibroblast harvest exposes transcriptional and surface marker shift in vitro
Yalini Vigneswaran, M.D.
University of Chicago Medical Center, Department of Surgery Macrophage polarization in response to self-assembling peptide biomaterials
Donald Reese, B.S.
Sponsor: John W. Harmon, M.D.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Strengthening Barriers: Successful strengthening of compromised skin with previously discussed novel minimally invasive approach using a Keratinocyte Growth Factor-1 plasmid
