Nicholas Leigh

WCMM Fellow | Regenerative Immunology

Our research

There is tremendous variation in how different species respond to injuries. Following an injury, humans are able to heal wounds, but are left with a scar. This limited regenerative ability is also seen following the amputation of a limb, where humans are unable to regenerate following amputation. In contrast, salamanders are able to fully regenerate limbs following amputation. The reasons for why salamanders are able to regenerate entire limbs and humans cannot are not understood. A marked difference between salamanders and humans is how the immune system responds to injury.

Leigh lab is focused on understanding how the immune system is able to facilitate regeneration in highly regenerative species. This interdisciplinary approach employs concepts and techniques from immunology and regenerative biology as well as cutting edge ‘omics based approaches to uncover immune system-derived requirements for scar-free healing and regeneration. In the long term, they hope this work will lay the foundation for therapies and interventions designed to harness the immune system to promote regenerative responses.

Aims

To understand the immune response to injury and how this can tip the balance between scarring and regeneration.
The development and sharing of tools that enable the study of biology in non-traditional model organisms.

Strengths of the group

We have a varied expertise that combined allows for novel insights into regenerative mechanisms. In addition, the use of both wet and dry lab techniques and the use of a unique highly regenerative model organism.

Impact

Understanding how evolution has solved biological problems promises to uncover unique solutions. Our unbiased and exploratory approaches are delving into unique biology that may one day help us understand how design novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

| Research Output