Harnessing fibroblast heterogeneity for skin regeneration

It has been known for many years that development, homeostasis and repair of mammalian skin depend on reciprocal signalling between the epidermis and dermis. However, the existence and functional significance of different subpopulations of dermal fibroblasts are only now being appreciated. In my talk I will describe the different types of fibroblasts that are present in fetal and adult skin and discuss ways in which they could be harnessed for tissue repair.