AsianScientist (Sep. 26, 2013) – Singapore is committing close to S$100 million to launch the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS), which will be located at Health City Novena on Mandalay Road.
Skin research is relatively underfunded globally as it does not contribute substantially to the burden of disease as measured by various public health indicators. Nonetheless, skin disorders affect one in three people worldwide. For example, about 20 percent of children in Singapore and many developed countries suffer from eczema.
A collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National Skin Center (NSC) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the SRIS will link scientists, clinicians and engineers on interdisciplinary and translational skin research projects. Unlike other skin research centers worldwide, this bold S$100 million investment brings together three partners with complementary strengths in clinical dermatology, skin biology, as well as materials science and bioengineering.
Beyond its interdisciplinary approach, the SRIS is also unique in that it will focus on skin conditions prevalent in Asia, as well as how skin phenotypes differ in different Asian populations and the tropical environment. Key research areas for the SRIS will include eczema, allergy and inflammation, pigmentary disorders, wound healing, hair conditions and skin aging.
As part of the initiative to stimulate skin research here, the partnership will launch a joint Thematic Skin Research Grant call later this year to catalyze collaborations in skin research between different institutions in Singapore. A*STAR and NTU will introduce PhD programs for skin biology, while NSC and the National Healthcare Group will develop research tracks for doctors in dermatology residency programs.
Commercial potential of skin biology research
Skin biology research is applicable not only for the pharmaceutical treatment of skin diseases, but also for the development of over-the-counter commercial skincare products, said Dr. Benjamin Seet, Executive Director of the A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (BMRC). He cited the example of how research into pigment cell biology and photobiology – the understanding of how melanin is regulated in skin – could be applied to treat pigmentary disorders such as melasma and vitiligo, as well as to develop skin whitening or tanning products.
To ensure product safety and efficacy, companies need to carry out extensive research into the products’ interaction with skin. But the ban on animal testing in the cosmetic industry also meant that these companies had to find alternative means of testing their products, such as computational, cellular and tissue models for in vitro toxicology and efficacy testing.
Which is why three of the world’s largest personal care companies set up corporate and R&D centers in Singapore focusing on the latest innovations in skin research. In 2012, L’Oréal opened its Advanced Research Center at the Biopolis. This year, Unilever opened Four Acres Singapore, its first global leadership development center outside of the UK. When completed in early 2014, the Procter & Gamble Singapore Innovation Center will house more than 500 researchers in its new building at the Biopolis research hub.
“Besides working with pharmaceutical companies, our researchers are currently working with some of the world’s largest personal care companies, a number which have expanded their R&D activities here. We are fully committed to placing Singapore at the forefront of research in skin biology and related fields, to continue to enhance the proposition for companies to locate their research activities here,” Dr. Seet said.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: euthman/Flickr/CC.
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