HEALS-A and GRADES: Novel Histological and Clinical Scales for Assessing Skin Regeneration in Murine Wound Healing Models.

Wounds affect approximately 15 out of every 1000 individuals, representing a significant healthcare challenge. The preclinical evaluation of novel wound treatments is important for advancing therapies that promote effective skin regeneration and improve healing outcomes. In this study, we integrated existing knowledge from the literature on murine wound healing models, histological features of the skin, and clinical scores described in humans to propose two complementary assessment tools: the HEALS-A histological score (healing, epithelialization, angiogenesis, leukocytes, scar tissue, appendages) and the GRADES clinical score (granulation tissue, redness/edema, appearance of wound, devitalized tissue). These scales combine real-time clinical observation with detailed histological analysis, providing a practical and comprehensive approach to assessing wound healing. Unlike existing wound assessing approaches, HEALS-A does not require specialized software and considers regenerated tissue structures, ensuring a broader and more-detailed evaluation. The assessment of wound closure over time, combined with clinical evaluation and histological analysis of skin, provides a comprehensive approach to determining the true impact of new treatments on skin regeneration and the recovery of its functions in wounds.