Published on 04 Sep 2024

Professor Ng Kee Woei - Recipient of the 'Most Highly Cited Paper' Award at SRIS's 10th Anniversary Celebration

We are pleased to share that Professor Ng Kee Woei received the Most Highly Cited Paper Award for his review article "Healing of Chronic Wounds: An Update of Recent Developments and Future Possibilities". The award was presented at the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS)’s 10th Anniversary Celebration by Ms Low Yen Ling, the Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) on 16 July 2024.


Highlights of the Review Article:

Chronic wounds present a significant medical challenge, exacerbated by the rising prevalence of diabetes and an ageing population. In the Review article, Professor Ng and his team provided a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in wound healing technologies. Here are some key takeaways:

 

  • Biologics: Growth factors, cytokines, and platelet-rich plasma show promise in modulating the wound environment, although challenges remain in maintaining their viability and efficacy.
  • Bioactive Wound Dressings: Innovations incorporating antimicrobials, ECM components, and amniotic membranes offer physical protection and active enhancement of wound healing.
  • Skin Equivalents: Cultured epithelial autografts and dermal substitutes aim to repair damaged skin but face limitations such as high costs and variable outcomes.
  • Cell-based Therapies: Mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages show immense potential due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties despite challenges with cell isolation and delivery.
  • Advanced Biomaterials and Additive Manufacturing: Techniques like 3D bioprinting are leading to the development of more sophisticated, customisable skin constructs.
  • Preclinical Models: There is a pressing need for better models that recapitulate the complexity of human chronic wounds alongside advanced diagnostics to improve clinical translation.

Professor Ng's review article offers a comprehensive and current overview of the state of chronic wound healing research. It covers various therapeutic approaches and emerging technologies, highlighting the complex and multifactorial nature of chronic wounds. The article emphasises the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop effective solutions, as well as identifies key challenges and limitations in current wound healing technologies. It guides future research efforts to address these gaps and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, the article underscores the importance of developing better preclinical models and diagnostic tools to enhance the translation of research findings into clinical practice. This review article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals in the field of wound healing, promoting knowledge exchange and facilitating the development of innovative therapies for this significant global health challenge. 

Review Article:

"Healing of Chronic Wounds: An Update of Recent Developments and Future Possibilities", Tissue Engineering Part B-Reviews (2019), Vol. 25, 5, 429-444. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.teb.2019.0019