Expert researchers and physicians not only describe classic and contemporary laboratory methods for studying tissue repair using a broad range of wound healing models, but also provide sensitive assays for the assessment of tissue healing. The systems detailed include human, animal, in vitro, in vivo, and impaired healing models, as well as models in which underlying systemic and genetic conditions influence the healing process. These powerful models illustrate the biochemical, molecular, and surgical techniques designed for the analysis and manipulation of the healing wound, and provide step-by-step instructions to ensure robust results.

During the past decade, significant progress in molecular and cellular te- niques has greatly advanced our understanding of the wound healing p- cess. Many of these new techniques have been utilized in the context of more classic models of wound healing. The combination of new and classic approaches has allowed scientists to make exciting discoveries in the field of tissue repair, resulting in an explosion of information about the healing p- cess. Importantly, these new findings have great relevance beyond wound healing itself. The injury repair process cuts across many disciplines, exte- ing to such broad fields as cancer, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. The relevance of the field to these many disciplines has generated great interest in models and methods for the study of wound healing. The goal of Wound Healing: Methods and Protocols is to provide scientists from many dis- plines with a compendium of classic and contemporary protocols from r- ognized experts in the field of wound healing. We hope this volume will be useful not only to those working within the field itself, but also to scientists from other disciplines who wish to adapt wound healing models to their own experimental needs. The process of wound healing encompasses many different biologic p- cesses, including epithelial growth and differentiation, fibrous tissue prod- tion and function, angiogenesis, and inflammation.

Expert researchers and physicians not only describe classic and contemporary laboratory methods for studying tissue repair using a broad range of wound healing models, but also provide sensitive assays for the assessment of tissue healing. The systems detailed include human, animal, in vitro, in vivo, and impaired healing models, as well as models in which underlying systemic and genetic conditions influence the healing process. These powerful models illustrate the biochemical, molecular, and surgical techniques designed for the analysis and manipulation of the healing wound, and provide step-by-step instructions to ensure robust results.

During the past decade, significant progress in molecular and cellular te- niques has greatly advanced our understanding of the wound healing p- cess. Many of these new techniques have been utilized in the context of more classic models of wound healing. The combination of new and classic approaches has allowed scientists to make exciting discoveries in the field of tissue repair, resulting in an explosion of information about the healing p- cess. Importantly, these new findings have great relevance beyond wound healing itself. The injury repair process cuts across many disciplines, exte- ing to such broad fields as cancer, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. The relevance of the field to these many disciplines has generated great interest in models and methods for the study of wound healing. The goal of Wound Healing: Methods and Protocols is to provide scientists from many dis- plines with a compendium of classic and contemporary protocols from r- ognized experts in the field of wound healing. We hope this volume will be useful not only to those working within the field itself, but also to scientists from other disciplines who wish to adapt wound healing models to their own experimental needs. The process of wound healing encompasses many different biologic p- cesses, including epithelial growth and differentiation, fibrous tissue prod- tion and function, angiogenesis, and inflammation.