Katie Bush, PhD
In a field where each day matters, dermal matrices have long served as critical tools for surgeons, helping prepare complex acute wounds for closure by supporting tissue generation and revascularization.1,2 Since their clinical introduction in the 1990s, these biomaterials have evolved from basic matrices to more sophisticated, acellular collagen templates that mimic the native dermis.
Despite these advances, most traditional dermal matrices require two to four weeks before a wound bed is ready for autografting—delaying definitive closure and increasing the risk of infection, pain, and scarring.3-8 That’s why newer innovations like Cohealyx are so important.
In a recent clinical case series describing the first patient use, this next-generation bovine dermal collagen matrix demonstrated wound bed readiness in as little as five to ten days, potentially offering a faster, safer, and more effective path to healing for patients with full-thickness wounds.9
A bioengineered boost to healing
Cohealyx is made from highly purified Type I and Type III collagen sourced from young bovine dermis. These components are essential to structural support and early tissue generation. Its porous matrix encourages cell migration and revascularization, helping to support preparation of a healthy, graft-ready wound bed. In pre-clinical use for the management of full-thickness wounds, this composition has supported wound bed readiness as early as one week.10,11
Case snapshots: Real healing, real progress
Case 1: A 67-year-old woman with diabetes presented with a full-thickness wound on the palmar surface of the left hand. The wound was excised and managed with Cohealyx. The wound bed was ready for grafting just 5 days after Cohealyx application. On day 3 post-grafting, she had 100% graft take and was fully re-epithelialized by day 10.
Case 2: A 48-year-old man with multiple comorbidities presented with a full-thickness wound on the right hand covering 11.25% TBSA. Ten days post-Cohealyx application, the wound was skin grafted. The majority of the wound was re-epithelialized within two weeks post-skin grafting. The patient showed strong functional recovery per the clinicians’ assessment.
Both cases used Cohealyx to successfully bridge the gap between excision and closure, demonstrating matrix integration, improved vascularization, and efficient wound progression.
Advancing Readiness to Wound Closure
This early clinical experience validates what pre-clinical studies have shown: Cohealyx creates an ideal healing environment that advances readiness to wound closure.2,3 That means the potential for fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and most importantly, less physical and emotional burden on patients and their families.
As a scientist by training, I’m always seeking innovative solutions to help clinicians improve outcomes for their patients. Cohealyx is a promising addition to the wound care arsenal—one that paves the way for a new standard in acute wound management, prioritizing both speed and quality of healing.
The Bottom Line
These early clinical outcomes signal a powerful shift. With Cohealyx, we’re not just treating wounds—we’re restoring lives faster.
Looking for more information? Learn more about Cohealyx or watch as Scott Hultman, MD, MBA, FACS discusses its use in a recent case.
About the author
Katie Bush, PhD, is Senior Vice President of Scientific & Medical Affairs at AVITA Medical, where she leads the strategic development and communication of scientific and clinical evidence for AVITA’s acute wound care portfolio. Since joining AVITA in 2017, she has guided clinical and preclinical research, supported regulatory strategy, and played a central role in the U.S. launch and expansion of the RECELL® System, including FDA approvals for burns, surgical and traumatic wounds, vitiligo, and the RECELL GO® System. She also led the scientific program supporting the 2024 FDA clearance of Cohealyx™, a collagen-based dermal matrix. Dr. Bush holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering & Medical Physics and is an inventor on multiple patents. Her academic and industry work includes over 15 peer-reviewed publications, 2 book chapters, and over 50 collaborative clinical publications and 100 abstract submissions in skin regeneration and wound healing.
References: 1. Mohammadyari et al. Front Transplant. 2023, 2:1133806, 2. Van den Bosch, et al. Wound Repair Regen. 2024, 32:960-78, 3. Chang et al. Semin Plast Surg. 2019, 33:185-9, 4. Olsen et al. Ann Plast Surg. 2024, 92:S172-8., 5. Ciprandi et al. J Wound Care. 2022, 31:824-31, 6. Chipp et al. 2017, 5:3., 7. Finnerty et al. Lancet. 2016, 388:1427-36., 8. Deitch et al. J Trauma. 1983, 23:895-8., 9. Akpunonu et al. J Surg. 2025, 10: 11337, 10. Bush et al. Cureus Mar 31;17(3):e81517, 11. Chamberlain et al. JBCR 46(1):S270-S271.
