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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Lee BorthwickORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2025 by the authors.The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the common denominator of more than 50 chronic diseases. Some of these chronic pathologies lead to enhanced tissue formation and deposition, whereas others are associated with increased tissue degradation, and some exhibit a combination of both, leading to severe tissue alterations. To develop effective therapies for diseases affecting the lung, liver, kidney, skin, intestine, musculoskeletal system, heart, and solid tumors, we need to modulate the ECM’s composition to restore its organization and function. Across diverse organ diseases, there are common denominators and distinguishing factors in this fibroinflammatory axis, which may be used to foster new insights into drug development across disease indications. The 2nd Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology Congress took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 17 to 19 June 2024 and was hosted by the International Society of Extracellular Matrix Pharmacology. The event was attended by 450 participants from 35 countries, among whom were prominent scientists who brought together state-of-the-art research on organ diseases and asked important questions to facilitate drug development. We highlight key aspects of the ECM in the liver, kidney, skin, intestine, musculoskeletal system, lungs, and solid tumors to advance our understanding of the ECM and its central targets in drug development. We also highlight key advances in the tools and technology that enable this drug development, thereby supporting the ECM.
Author(s): Karsdal M, Cox TR, Parker AL, Willumsen N, Sand JMB, Jenkins G, Hansen HH, Oldenburger A, Geillinger-Kaestle KE, Larsen AT, Black D, Genovese F, Eckersley A, Heinz A, Nystrom A, Holm Nielsen S, Bennink L, Johannsson L, Bay-Jensen A-C, Orange DE, Friedman S, Ropke M, Fiore V, Schuppan D, Rieder F, Simona B, Borthwick L, Skarsfeldt M, Wennbo H, Thakker P, Stoffel R, Clarke GW, Kalluri R, Ruane D, Zannad F, Mortensen JH, Sinkeviciute D, Sundberg F, Coseno M, Thudium C, Croft AP, Khanna D, Cooreman M, Broermann A, Leeming DJ, Mobasheri A, Ricard-Blum S
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine
Year: 2025
Volume: 14
Issue: 6
Print publication date: 02/03/2025
Online publication date: 10/03/2025
Acceptance date: 08/02/2025
ISSN (electronic): 2077-0383
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14061856
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14061856
