WP9
Development of novel nerve grafts/conduits for peripheral nerve repair.
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) without or with substance loss are considered a significant clinical challenge often resulting in impaired sensory and motor function. According to the guidelines in Annals of Plastic Surgery (2012), clinical approach strictly depends on injury severity. In case of sharp nerve transections, primary nerve repair (i.e. end-to-end nerve repair) can be supported by implantation of a wrap to avoid intra-neural scarring/epineural thickening causing severe pain and dysfunction. To date, many different wraps (i.e. biological and synthetic) have been considered in clinical practice; however the research is still active to identify an effective and not expensive product. If nerve continuity is lost and surgical reconstruction is not possible, the bridging of the gap is required. Absorbable nerve conduits are gaining attention but, to date, optimum results have not yet been obtained. Thus, according to tissue engineering principles, our aim is to manufacture appealing, effective and inexpensive devices to use in case of PNI without or with substance loss able to assure for functional recovery of the damaged nerve.
TEAM
A. Porzionato
Medical degree (2001 - University of Padova), specialized in Legal Medicine (2005 - University of Padova). From October 1, 2005 he is Assistant Professor in Human Anatomy (Institute of Human Anatomy - University of Padova); Ph.D. in Medical, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neuroscience curriculum (2009 - University of Padova); from December 1, 2011 he is Associate Professor of Human Anatomy (Institute of Human Anatomy - University of Padova); National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor in Human Anatomy since 2016. Other positions: Member of the Scientific Committee of the Dept. of Molecular Medicine of the University of Padova from 2012-2016; External Reviewer for the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong in 2012; Representative for the School of Medicine in the “Committee for Didactics Quality”; Director of the Course in Aerospace Medicine from 2013-2014; Member of the Ph.D. Program in Molecular Medicine from 2014-2015. Prof. Porzionato is active in many interdisciplinary research projects in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (development of biological scaffolds and innovative artificial materials), also cooperating with the Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials (CMBM) at the University of Padova. Other main interests regard experimental models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neuroscience (central and peripheral chemoreceptors, neuroanatomy/neuropathology of the brainstem) and clinical anatomy; he is principal investigator of many research projects since 2007. Regarding Body Donation, Prof. Porzionato is member of the staff of the “Body Donation Program” of the University of Padova (Reference Centre for Body Donation of the Veneto Region) and of the “Inter-department Centre for Teaching on Cadaver - A. Vesalio”, also coordinating numerous dissection workshops for surgeons and students of the Medical School. Author of more than 240 in extenso papers with Impact Factor (˃600), speaker at numerous National and International Congresses. Participation in PRIN 2005 and 2007. Head of Research Project of the University of Padova in 2014. Scientific head for Scholarship in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (2016 and 2017 from TES – Tissue Engineering and Signaling Foundation onlus). Tutor at numerous workshops of dissection in anatomical and clinical courses for surgeons. Member of the Editorial Board of European Journal of Anatomy, Frontiers in Oncology, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, Forensic Science and Criminology, Annals of Medical Case Reports – Section: Forensic and Legal Medicine Case Reports. Consultant activities in the field of Forensic Clinical Anatomy.
V. Macchi
Medical degree (1998 – University of Padova), specialized in Radiology (2002 - Dept. of Radiology, University of Padova) and Ph.D. in Medical, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neuroscience curriculum (2006 - Dept. of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padova). She is Associate Professor of Human Anatomy at the University of Padova, since 2010; National Scientific Qualification for Full Professor in Human Anatomy, since 2016. Other positions: Member of the Ph.D. Program in Molecular Medicine from 2014-2015; since 2016, she is member of the Scientific Committee of the Dept. of Neurosciences, University of Padova. Her scientific activity focuses on clinical and radiological anatomy, considering the role of adipose tissue in the onset and development of osteoarthritis. he is principal investigator of many research projects since 2007. Vice-director of Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials (CMBM) at the University of Padova, she is active in interdisciplinary research projects based on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Regarding Body Donation, Prof. Macchi is member of the staff of the “Body Donation Program” of the University of Padova (Reference Centre for Body Donation of the Veneto Region) and of the “Inter-department Centre for Teaching on Cadaver – A. Vesalio”. Director of the Specialisation Course in Clinical Anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. Moreover, she is also responsible for coordination of numerous dissection workshops for surgeons and students of the Medical School. Author of more than 240 in extenso papers with Impact Factor (˃600). Participation in PRIN 2005 and 2007. Head of Research Project of the University of Padova in 2015. Scientific head for Scholarship in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (2016 and 2017 from TES – Tissue Engineering and Signaling Foundation onlus). Associate Editor of anatomical Science Education, Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, European Journal of Anatomy and Journal of the Anatomical Society of India. Speaker and invited speaker at numerous National and International Congresses.
R. De Caro
Medical Degree (1980 - University of Padova), specialized in Pathological Anatomy (1984 – University of Padova) and in Legal Medicine (1987 - University of Trieste). At the University of Padova: Researcher at the Institute of Normal Human Anatomy (1983-1992); Associate Professor of Topographic Anatomy (1992-2000); Full-Professor of Human Anatomy (from October 2000 – Today); Director of the Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology (2004-2011); Director of the Department of Neurosciences (since October 1, 2019). Other positions: President of Courses in Medicine and Surgery (2006-2013) and Physiotherapy (since 2013); Director of the Master in manual therapy and musculoskeletal rehabilitation (since 2012). Director of the Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials (CMBM) at the University of Padova up to 2019. Regarding Body Donation, Prof. De Caro is the chief of the staff of the “Body Donation Program” of the University of Padova (Reference Centre for Body Donation of the Veneto Region) and of the “Inter-department Centre for Teaching on Cadaver – A. Vesalio”. Author of more than 300 original works in extenso. Member of the editorial board of: Clinical Anatomy, Surgical and Radiological Anatomy, European Journal of Anatomy, Translational Research in Anatomy.
President of the “Teachers board of Human Anatomy”, Member of the Italian Society of Anatomy e Histology, Past President of the European Association of Clinical Anatomy, Corresponding Fellow of the British Association of Clinical Anatomy, Vice-President of the Transeuropean Pedagogic Anatomical Research Group, Member of the Anatomical Society, American Association of Clinical Anatomy, International Society of History of Medicine.
Prof. De Caro personally performed over 5000 cadaveric dissections, for research scientific and educational purposes. Speaker at numerous national and international conferences, including by invitation. Moreover, Prof. De Caro has organized and taught in several dissection workshops in clinical anatomy and courses for surgeons, also in collaboration with other Institutions. Consultant activities in the field of Forensic Clinical Anatomy.