Dr Hafiza Parkar has developed a groundbreaking new approach to treating severe wounds like ulcers and burns using 3D bioprinting.
Pretoria, South Africa (11 September 2025) – A University of Pretoria PhD graduate, Dr Hafiza Parkar, has paved the way for an advanced way to treat secondary intention wounds like ulcers and burns using 3D bioprinting of “natural” skin replacement products instead of traditional, and often problematic, skin grafts.
She shared that her research is significantly focused on treating wounds left to heal on their own without stitches, using advanced dermal substitutes that replicate human skin, offering a promising solution for treating secondary intention wounds.
“Current gold-standard treatments, such as skin grafts, are limited by donor availability, immune rejection, and patient comorbidities. Acellular dermal scaffolds (ADS) [cell-free skin-like structures that support healing] offer a promising alternative, where decellularisation removes cells and immunogenic components while preserving the skin’s natural extracellular matrix, reducing rejection risk.
“ADSs are cost-effective, and their structural integrity and versatility position them as a leading biomaterial for next-generation wound therapies,” Dr Parkar explains.
Dr Parkar’s acellular dermal scaffolds (ADS) have shown promising results in animal models, leading to more effective and accelerated healing.
She added that 3D bioprinting enables customisable acellular dermal scaffolds that can be tailored to the specific size, depth and nature of each patient’s wound, and even include their own cells.
“This personalised approach will enhance the efficacy of the treatment and ensure a better fit, potentially leading to faster and more efficient healing, relieving the strain on both the healthcare system and the patient.”
Dr Parkar’s journey began in 2017 and was one of incredible resilience. Despite facing numerous setbacks, including lab renovations and the COVID-19 pandemic, she persevered.
She taught herself 3D bioprinting, a skill that opened up international opportunities and collaborations, and continued to push forward even when faced with months of failed experiments.
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She received her PhD in Pharmacology from her department on Tuesday, 2 September, during UP’s Spring Graduation season.
“This journey was never just about me,” she says.
“It was about the people I needed to meet to reach the finish line, and the people who needed to meet me so I could be part of their journey.”
Her message to future researchers resonates with hard-earned wisdom:
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. And I can truly say, I danced my feet off.”
Sources: Supplied
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