Epidermolysis bullosa

In Spain there are several investigation projects in EB ongoing. One of the main groups dedicated to this work is led by Dr Fernando Larcher and Dr Marcela del Río, with DrMaría José Escámez as the senior scientist at CIEMAT(UC3M-IISFJD-CIBERER).

Next, we detail some of the main scientific contributions done from this center:

• From 2007 to 2020 they made the genetic diagnostic of almost 300 families with epidermolysis bullosa, as this genetic test was not included in the list of services of public hospitals until 2019. DEBRA Butterfly Skin contributed economically to this endeavour.
• In the last 15 years they have published over 40 scientific papers exposing very promising results on preclinic studies (animal models).
• They have also developed and collaborated in clinical trials. The most recent one has been the MesenSistem-EB, partly financed by DEBRA Butterfly Skin. It has studied the safety and efficacy of intravenous infusions of mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of Recessive Dystrophic EB (it can be consulted on the REec website, with ID: 2017-000606-37).
• Up to date, they have collaborated in numerous investigation projects for EB, with the support of DEBRA in terms of diffusion. In the following links their activity and projects can be consulted:
• https://termeg.wixsite.com/multitereb
• http://rdgroups.ciemat.es/web/biomerep/proyectos

Finally, we name some examples of other groups in Spain which at some point they have put their interest focus on better studying how the disease works, as well as looking for alternative therapeutic options:

• Basic Investigation Department, Epithelial Biomedicine Division, Energetic, Environmental and Technological Investigation Centre (CIEMAT) (Madrid)
• Dermathology Department of the Paediatric University Hospital Niño Jesús (Madrid)
• Sanitary Investigation Institute of Jimenez Díaz Foundation (IISFJD) (Madrid)
• Research Institute of Vall d’Hebron (Barcelona)
• Pharmacology and skin Biology Department of the pharmaceutical Almirall (Barcelona)
• Stomatology Department of the Medical and Dental School of the University of Valencia.