An update on the Fellow in the Division of Burn, Trauma, and Critical Care prepared for:
Sons of the Flag
Submitted by: Benjamin Levi, M.D.
Shaping the Future of Medicine
Severe burn injuries remain among the most challenging conditions to treat. They destroy not only the skin but also deeper tissues, leading to infection, loss of mobility, disfigurement, and lifelong pain. While surgery and modern burn care can save lives, there is still no therapy that restores skin to its original function and appearance after a major burn. Additionally, there are gaps in knowledge. For example, an inaccurate initial burn wound diagnosis (currently inaccurate 40% of the time), leads to a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, burn wound pain is a major problem for military and civilian personnel. Finally, burns not only cause destruction of skin, but also can lead to aberrant formation of bone in joints leading to limited range of motion and chronic pain in a process call heterotopic ossification.
Our work in the Division of Burn, Trauma, and Critical Care and Levi Laboratory focuses on solving this problem from multiple angles. We investigate how burns affect the body at the cellular and tissue level, why scar tissue forms, and how we might guide the body toward true regeneration rather than repair. This includes research on skin regeneration, pain, preventing heterotopic ossification, and improving burn wound diagnosis.
The gift from Sons of the Flag enables us to keep scholars in the laboratory whose entire role is to move these projects forward. Additionally, this award supports the impactful research of these fellows to advance burn care. This concentrated effort accelerates discovery and ensures our work stays at the forefront of regenerative burn care.
Progress
This year has been one of our most productive and impactful, with advances across several core research areas.
Implemented a novel burn device. We established and enrolled over 20 patients at Parkland hospital with a novel burn device that, for the first time, can diagnose burn wound severity based on tissue moisture.
Developed scar biology and anti-fibrotic strategies. We identified specific immune cells and signaling molecules that drive excessive collagen deposition in burn scars. Using animal models and human enrollment, we tested targeted inhibitors that reduced scar thickness by more than 40% without impairing wound closure.
Prevented burn induced heterotopic ossification (HO). Building on earlier findings that certain inflammatory signals trigger abnormal bone formation after burns and trauma, we used genetic and drug-based approaches to block these pathways. Results showed a dramatic reduction in HO development, pointing toward possible therapies for patients at high risk.
Performed regenerative skin grafts. We refined bioengineered skin scaffolds seeded with patient-derived cells. In preclinical studies, these grafts showed stronger mechanical integrity, better blood vessel ingrowth, and a more natural skin texture compared to standard grafts.
Addressed acute and chronic pain. Acute and chronic pain remain one of the most debilitating outcomes of burn injuries. Using novel technologies to assess metabolites in the skin after burn injury, we identified a potential dietary modification to mitigate acute and chronic pain.
Produced scholarly research. The Sons of the Flag Scholars published four peer-reviewed manuscripts, presented six abstracts at national meetings (including the American Burn Association and Plastic Surgery Research Council), and played a central role in securing new grant submissions to the NIH and Department of Defense. The scholars who worked on these project this past year included Chase Pagani and Madysen Hunter who have built on the progress of our previous fellows Dr. Meriam Elhamad who currently works for one of the burn spray skin technologies (Recell) for burns and Dr. Johanna Nunez who is now one of our burn fellows at UTSW.
Impact
Your support has had a direct and measurable impact. First, this gift has created opportunities for staff to engage in a full-time translational research focus. The scholar’s protected research time has led to the generation of high-quality data that forms the backbone of clinically relevant advances that could not otherwise have been achieved. As an example of this excellence in research, one of our fellow’s work was awarded “Best Basic Science Paper” at a national surgical meeting, raising the profile of burn research and attracting new collaborators.
Because of your continued support, this gift also builds a mentorship pipeline for the field. The goal of Sons of the Flag is to inspire more burn clinicians and scientists to enhance current care as well as establish the next generation of burn clinicians and scientists to continue to improve burn care for years to come
Most importantly, your generosity accelerates therapeutic development to improve patients’ lives. Without this gift, we would not have been able to establish a new imaging modality to enhance burn wound diagnosis. Keeping patient experience at the center, we also incorporated burn survivor input into our research priorities, ensuring our projects address issues that matter most.
What’s next?
In the coming year, we aim to:
• Establish new imaging systems to enroll patients throughout the state of Texas and beyond.
• Use artificial intelligence algorithms to enhance accuracy of our novel burn wound diagnosis device.
• Use novel sequencing technologies to identify cell mutations that would enhance burn wound healing.
• Develop novel, near clinical approaches to mitigate burn induced heterotopic ossification
• Continue mapping the lymphatic system’s recovery after burns to design targeted therapies that promote full restoration.
• Train the Sons of the Flag Scholars, who will build on this year’s discoveries while launching new projects.
The primary challenges ahead involve securing federal funding needed to support clinical trials. The support of Sons of the Flag allows for important advances that otherwise would not be possible, serving as crucial bridge funding for breakthrough discoveries.
Thank you!
We are profoundly grateful for Sons of the Flag’s unwavering belief in our mission. Your support has allowed us to work faster, think bigger, and tackle the most important problems in burn recovery.
This year’s highlight was hosting members of Sons of the Flag in our laboratory. Seeing your enthusiasm as you interacted with our team reminded us that this is not just research; it is a partnership between scientists, clinicians, and passionate advocates for burn survivors.
Your investment this year has brought us closer than ever to changing the standard of care for burn injuries. The unprecedented funding success, breakthrough discoveries, and expansion of our diagnostic technology represent transformative progress. Because of you, we are turning hope into reality for patients who need it most.
The Sons of the Flag fellowship continues to be the cornerstone that enables our most ambitious research while training the next generation of burn care leaders. Together, we are building a future where severe burns are no longer a life sentence but a challenge we can overcome through science, dedication, and the generous support of partners like you.