The Future of Everything The future of wound healing
Oct 24, 2025
Jill Helms, a clinician-scientist and Stanford professor specializing in wound healing, shares her insights into the body’s complex repair mechanisms. She discusses how age affects healing, with declines starting around 30, and the potential of awakening dormant stem cells to enhance recovery. Jill explores innovative approaches like gum-like tissues to combat infections near medical devices and highlights nature as a blueprint for developing better healing strategies. Her passion for regenerative medicine shines through as she envisions a future where healing is significantly improved.
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How The Body Detects And Starts Repair
- The body senses injury primarily through disrupted physical integrity, which triggers repair programs.
- Stem cells at wound edges divide to close wounds, then immune cells clear microbes and remodeling begins.
Sleeper Stem Cells And Age Decline
- Quiescent or "sleeper" stem cells activate for deeper wounds when local stem cells are insufficient.
- Healing quality declines with age, noticeably worsening after about age 30.
Kids' Bones Heal Almost Automatically
- Pediatric bones heal remarkably fast, often rejoining without precise alignment.
- The same fractures in older adults take much longer and heal less perfectly.