DEBRA Research Collaborates with Queen Mary University of London to Advance Drug Development for EB

Munich, Germany and London, United Kingdom, 7 August 2025 – DEBRA Research gGmbH, a global non- profit organization dedicated to advancing research and drug development for those affected by Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), today announced a preclinical research collaboration with Queen Mary University of London, the UK’s leading institution in skin and cell biology research. The agreement, which was formalized with the teams of Dr. Emanuel Rognoni and Dr. Matthew Caley, will strengthen international efforts in the fight against EB, a rare and debilitating skin condition. 

DEBRA Research will support Queen Mary in establishing the infrastructure to provide capabilities for testing of promising EB drug candidates in relevant preclinical models, as a service to the international EB research community. EB is a genetic disorder characterized by extremely fragile skin, leading to blisters and wounds from even minor friction and trauma. EB is caused by pathological variants in genes that encode proteins critical to maintaining the structural integrity of the skin. Despite the severity of the condition, there is currently no cure.

“Through this partnership, the outstanding preclinical capabilities of Dr. Rognoni’s and Dr. Caley’s teams at Queen Mary University of London will become accessible to the wider EB research community, from academia to biotech and pharma,” said Dr. Christoph Coch, Managing Director at DEBRA Research. “Access to high-quality preclinical models remains one of the major bottlenecks in EB drug development. Via our partnership we hope to accelerate the path to effective therapies that can transform the lives of people living with EB. This collaboration also represents a creative, scalable new cooperation model between academic research organizations and a philanthropic partner for advancing rare disease research – a model that could be replicated across other conditions to benefit millions of patients.” 

Both research groups, based at the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute, have extensive experience in regenerative approaches and cellular mechanisms relevant to skin disorders: Dr. Rognoni and his team are investigating how different fibroblast types – critical cells in the connective tissue – contribute to development, healing, ageing, and disease. Dr. Caley’s research focuses on the basement membrane zone, a structural interface essential for skin stability and repair, and its role in wound healing, ageing, cancer, and EB. 

Dr. Emanuel Rognoni from Queen Mary commented: “Epidermolysis bullosa presents a vastly complex biological challenge that we still don’t fully understand. This collaboration allows us to establish the infrastructure needed to offer our preclinical expertise on rare skin diseases to the EB research community, and to empower our future collaborators to develop new therapeutic strategies.”

 

Dr. Matthew Caley from Queen Mary added: “Working with DEBRA Research gives us a chance to align our scientific work with a translational mission. This collaboration is an important opportunity to advance EB research and drive real impact.”

The partnership will initially focus on preclinical research, laying the groundwork for future therapeutic innovation and potentially new therapy approaches. Furthermore, this marks a strategic step in fostering cross-border collaboration among multiple leading EB research institutions to improve outcomes for people living with EB.

 

About DEBRA Research

DEBRA Research is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing treatments and cures for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare and life-limiting genetic condition. As the research arm of DEBRA Austria - a patient organization established in 1995 to support individuals living with EB - DEBRA Research collaborates globally with academia, biotech, pharma, patient organizations, and regulatory bodies to drive innovation. DEBRA Research focuses on translational research and clinical development to address the unmet needs of patients suffering from EB. Its goal is to accelerate the discovery and development of treatments improving quality of life, while striving for a future where EB is curable - a "world without EB".

For more information, please follow us on LinkedIn.

 

About Queen Mary University of London

Queen Mary University of London is ranked 24th in the world and 6th in the UK for the quality of its research (THE Word University Rankings 2025) with 92% of research assessed as internationally excellent or world- leading (REF 2021). Innovation and impact are integral to Queen Mary’s research culture.

For more information, please visit www.qminnovation.co.uk and follow us on LinkedIn.

 

Contacts

DEBRA Research gGmbH

Dr. Christoph Coch, Managing Director

E-Mail: info@debra-research.org

 

Media Inquiries

MC Services

Dr. Cora Kaiser, Dr. Johanna Kobler

Phone: +49 89 210 2280 

E-Mail: debra-research@mc-services.eu