Tel Aviv Scientists Create New Skin Graft Using Patient’s Own Cells

A groundbreaking innovation in burn treatment is emerging from the heart of Israel’s scientific community. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a bioengineered skin graft method that uses a patient's own cells to create new skin offering a safer, faster, and more effective alternative to traditional grafting.

The development comes amid a rising need for advanced burn treatments due to war-related injuries. Unlike traditional skin grafts that require harvesting large sections of healthy skin from the patient’s body, this new technique enables doctors to extract a small biopsy and regenerate replacement skin in the lab.

The method was pioneered by Professor Lihi Adler-Abramovich and Ph.D. candidate Dana Cohen-Gerassi from the Laboratory for Bio-Inspired Materials and Nanotechnology at the Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University. Their findings, published in Advanced Functional Materials, describe how skin cells from a patient can be placed on a bioengineered, mesh-like structure embedded with a molecule that encourages cells to grow, multiply, and self-organize into layers resembling natural skin.

“Our graft is unique in that it does not shrink, and is durable, flexible and easy-to-handle,” said Dr. Marina Ben-Shoshan of Sheba Medical Center’s Green Center for Skin Graft Engineering. In animal models, the engineered graft accelerated healing at twice the rate of standard treatment. Even more remarkably, hair follicles began to regrow signaling a regenerative process that mimics true human skin.

“The bioengineered skin we’ve developed represents a true breakthrough in burn care,” added Professor Yossi Haik of Sheba Medical Center. “Made entirely from the patient’s own cells, it is strong, flexible, and significantly accelerates healing. This is a major step toward personalized therapies that can dramatically improve outcomes for soldiers and civilians alike.”

The research team is now preparing for the next phase, including further trials and regulatory steps to bring this innovation closer to clinical use.

Once again, Israeli science is answering urgent human needs with ingenuity and compassion. This breakthrough not only holds promise for Israel’s wounded but may soon help burn victims around the world heal faster, better, and with less pain.

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