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Porto Skin Ageing & Challenges 2019 will be held in February 25-27, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the members of the scientific committee, we are pleased to welcome you for the 10th International Conference on Skin Ageing and Challenges which is held in February 25-27, 2019 in Porto, Portugal. Skin Challenges 2019 is held under the patronage of the International Microbiota Society (IMS) and the International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH).

Ageing is an international issue that has social, economic and individual impacts. Preventing it and decreasing its side effects (all related pathologies) are major challenges for humanity. Thus the understanding of ageing and in particular skin ageing mechanisms will allow us to live longer, better and healthier.

During Skin Challenges 2019, the Scientific Committee will allocate significant time to discuss the latest advances related to skin homeostasis and ageing. Our objective is to provide answers and to give a future vision and trends of how can the current researches delay the side effects of ageing and skin ageing?

We will provide more time and space to present the recent innovations, biotechnology products and devices during the two days of conference.

The aims of Skin Challenges 2019 are to:

  • Draft the state of the art in skin ageing
  • Present the different mechanisms involved in homeostasis and skin aging but also to address the different tracks and pathways (signaling, transcription factors…) involved in this process
  • Highlight the recent innovations in skin ageing and photo ageing
  • Present the new notion of exposome and skin ageing
  • Discuss the role of microbiota and skin microbiota
  • Present the practical applications of algae applications in cosmetic industry

Discussion: what is the strategic role of skin olfactory receptors and smell?

  • How to explain the regeneration and cicatrisation by olfacory receptors activation?
  • What is the impact of smell on skin ageing? How to explain the regeneration and cicatrisation by olfacory receptors activation?

What is the impact of smell on skin ageing?

Skin Challenges 2019 will gather major actors in the ageing and skin-ageing area and will target researchers and academic professors, R&D departments, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, food supplement companies, cosmetics companies, marketing departments, investors, start ups and all other stakeholders in the skin ageing industry.

As always, we very much look forward to seeing you in sunny Porto for this exciting event.

Prof. Jean Krutmann
IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medecine, Germany

President of Skin Ageing & Challenge 2019

Who attended Porto Skin Challenges 2018?

During two days, more than 60 oral & poster communications were highlighted different axes and topics related to the recent mechanisms, cellular and molecular effects and metabolism, but also the impact of external factors and the new generation of natural ingredients.

The 8th edition was an excellent platform which gathered more than 180 participants from 36 countries, to share data, ideas, critical comments and opinions alike.

The audience of Porto Skin Ageing & Challenges was  composed by academics and industrials coming from all around the world. Among the participants:

AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories
Rousselot
Laboratoires M&L
UNESP
Monteloeder SL
Oriflame Cosmetics
Chanel
Philips
Mibelle Group Mifa
Arterra Bioscience srl
Laboratoires Clarins
Merck
Beiersdorf AG
Unilever
Lycotec
DSM Nutritional Products
ID bio
InternationalaMicrobiology Department
L’Oréal Research and Innovation
Laboratoires Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique
Greentech
L’Oréal Active Cosmetics
Symrise AG
Walgreens Boots Alliance
CLR – Berlin
Dow Slicones Belgium
Provital SA
ROQUETTE Frères
SEDERMA
IFF-Lucas Meyer Cosmetics
Vichy Laboratoires
Symrise Ibérica
Greensea
Procter & Gamble International Operations
University of Manchester		 Oriflame R&D
Clariant
Devan Micropolis, SA
Inovapotek
Allergan
Prestige et Collections International
Ashland
Unilever R&D
Nestle Skin Health
SAFIC-ALCAN
SEPPIC
Technion
University of Namur
University of Rouen Normandy
Okayama University of Science
Université Pierre et Marie Curie
China Medical University
Chung-Ang University
Medical University of Bialystok
Newcastle University
Pennsylvania State University
Saarland University
Université du Havre
Tokyo Medical & Dental University
Stanford University
Doshisha University
The University of Bradford
University of Ferrara
Zhejiang University
Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences
Biodonostia Health Research Institute
CEA
Université Grenoble Alpes
Department Dermatology Saint Jacques Hospital
EstheMedis
University of Coimbra

Miguel Hernández University
Public Health England
Université Paris-Sud
University College London
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Université du Havre
Moscow state University
Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology
Wojskowy Instytut Higieny i Epidemiologii
The Francis Crick Institute
The Hebrew University
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Eastman Dental Institute
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
UCL
Adolphe Merkle Institute
University of Fribourg
Dow Slicones Belgium
Jagiellonian University
Medical University of Bialystok
Medical University of Warsaw
Universität Innsbruck
University of Porto
University Brasil
Institut Cochin
Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine
University of Ferrara
University of Exester
Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
University of Tübingen
Swansea University
and many more…
 
 
 
For more information: www.skin-challenges.com
 

Prof. Dr. med Jean Krutmann was awarded for his scientific achievements

During the 9th International Conference on Skin Challenges held in February 26-27, 2018, the Scientific Committee awarded Prof. Dr. med. Jean Krutmann, director of IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine at Düsseldorf, Germany for all his scientific achievements in the field of skin.

Prof. Dr. med. Krutmann gave a strategic presentation about “What’s new in extrinsic skin aging research? State of the art”. He highlighted the mechanisms through which air pollutants cause skin hyperpigmentation and he designed the way to claim anti-pollution ingredients for cosmetic products. For the scientific committee, Prof. Dr. med. Krutmann is a pioneer and vanguardist dermatologist. He actively participated to create new innovations in the field of skin protection and translated all his basic research into practical applications.

About Prof. Dr. med. Jean Krutmann: 
Jean Krutmann was born in 1959 in Menden, Germany, and obtained his MD from the University of Münster in 1986. After several stays abroad (postdoc at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA and DFG stipend at the University Hospital for Dermatology in Vienna, Austria) he became resident, assistant/associate professor at the University Hospital for Dermatology of Freiburg.
From 1994 until 2001 he was full professor/deputy director of the University Hospital for Dermatology Düsseldorf.
In 2001 he was appointed Chair of Environmental Medicine at the Medical Faculty of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and thereby also Director of IUF. Under his directorship in 2011 the institute became a member of the Leibniz Association and was renamed IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine.

His research focuses on dermatoxicology, immunodermatology and photodermatology with a special emphasis on environmentally-induced skin diseases and skin aging.
He is author/coauthor of more than 400 contributions to scientific journals and books as well as editor of 9 textbooks.

Jean Krutmann was awarded several national and international prizes: Arnold Rikli Award, Albrecht Fleckenstein Award, Paul Gerson Unna Award, Oscar Gans Award, CE.R.I.E.S. Research Support Award and the Dermopharmacy Innovation Award. Since 2010, he is member of the Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Science. Since 2012, he is speaker of the Leibniz Research Alliance “Healthy Ageing”. Additionally, he is Distinguished Adjunct Professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and Senior Visiting Professor of the Human Phenome Institute of Fudan University.

Skin microbiota & epithelial barrier: the scientific contribution awarded Dr Katharina Bitschar

Dr Katharina Bitschar from the University of Tübingen, Germany was awarded for her scientific contribution and here studies related to the skin microbiota & epithelial barrier.

Dr Bitschar’s testimonial: “It is a great honor for me to be awarded by the ISANH for my scientific contribution. My work is about how the commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis influences skin colonization with the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Our results show that S. epidermidis protects the skin from S. aureus infection. Interestingly, this protective effect could not be reproduced in vivo when the skin barrier was compromised by repeated tape-stripping. Therefore, we conclude that commensal-induced skin protection is highly dependent on the integrity of the epithelial barrier. Further analysis of the protective mechanisms revealed that this protective effect is partially mediated by IL-1 receptor signaling pathways. The international conference of skin ageing and challenges represents a great opportunity to exchange new concepts and share the latest developments in the field of skin microbiome research. I particularly enjoyed discussing potential future applications of skin microbiota with leading industry partners and other scientists.”

Dr Bitschar will present the updated of this study during the next Skin Challenges Congress which will be held in 2019. More information soon on www.skin-challenges.com

 

 

 

Biodegradeble nanoparticles as topical drug delivery into hair follicels awarded for the best poster of Porto Skin Challenges 2018

Nethanel Friedman from the Laboratory of Dr Ofra Benny at the Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem was awarded for his poster presentation and his studies about Biodegradeble nanoparticles as topical drug delivery into hair follicels presented during Porto Skin Challenges Congress 2018.

The poster of Mr Friedman highlighted the penetration and delivery of drugs into the deepest dermal layers. In his work, he developed an improved drug delivery system based on biodegradable nanoparticles targeting the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Accumulation of particles loaded with drug in the deepest layers of the follicles has a great potential to serve as an efficient tool for topical drug delivery in many diseases.

According to him: “Skin Challenges 2018” has been a wonderful opportunity to be exposed to the most updated and innovative research in the field of skin ageing.
International gathering of leading scientists from academy and industry that are working on skin challenges, provides a great platform to meet with colleagues in the field and to initiate new collaborations.
The event was very enjoyable and well organized. I am looking forward to participate in the meeting next year.”

The Scientific Committee awarded the French company Greentech for their industrial innovation.

During the 9th International Conference on Skin Challenges held in February 26-27, 2018, the Scientific Committee awarded the French company Greentech for their industrial innovation.
 
Greentech was selected for this award not only because they actively participated to Porto SKin Challenges 2018, but they also shared their innovations, vision and strategies with academics and other industrials with full transparency.
 
The scientific committee stated: “Greentech removed the barrers between industries and academics, and allowed to have a constructive scientific exchange”.
 
According to Prof. Edith Filaire and Greentech team: “The congress was very interesting, rich in high-level and up to date scientific presentations ranging from interventions on the latest data related to aging and exposome, and to the relationship between microbiota and its role in the skin. The congress brings together public and private researchers who had opportunity to discuss and exchange about cosmetic applications of presented basic results. After each session, discussion was very intense between researchers. It was a nice challenge for private researchers to be confronted with academic research.”
 
About Greentech:
For 25 years, the Biotech company GREENTECH is developing active ingredients for cosmetic and delivers customers in more than 40 countries in the world. The company has subsidiaries in US (GREENTECH US), in Germany (GREENTECH GmbH) and now in Brazil (MAPRIC, 35 years local company producing ingredients from brasilian plants for cosmetics, pharmacy and nutraceuticals). The raw materials used by GREENTECH Group are plants, seaweeds and algae (thanks to her subsidiary GREENSEA) and micro-organisms (thanks to her subsidiary BIOVITIS). The success of the companies is due to proximity and service supplied to customers but also to continuous and dynamic innovation process in concepts and also in sciences. GREENTECH has developed a sustainable network of sourcing with local and faithful local producers in many countries, who allows GREENTECH to have quality raw materials
 
Greentech has developed a powerful anti-pollution skin protector, URBALYS® using an extract from berries concentrate in lignans. The active ingredient stimulates central barrier functions to fight the negative effects of pollution. Indeed, URBALYS® is a powerful global anti-pollution skin protector with 4 global actions to protect skin from pollutants. 1) It protects at molecular level by activating genes implicated in redox balance, detoxification and skin barrier integrity 2) it protects at cellular level by limiting the induction of the inflammation and by limiting the overproduction of ROS and then, by modulating the cellular defences and maintaining the redox balance 3) It protects at tissular level by strengthening the cutaneous barrier and maintaining the dermis integrity 4) At organ level, URBALYS® protects from prolonged pollution aggression since it improves hydration, protects skin homogeneity, increases skin radiance and luminosity and attenuates skin spot intensity after 21 days of pollution exposition.

Final Agenda & Remarks of Porto Skin Challenges 2018

We asked the chairmen of the scientific committee about the challenges they want to present during the meeting.

Prof. Marvin Edeas, Université Paris Descartes, INSERM, Paris, France et Prof. Jean-François Doré, INSERM Lyon, France commented: “We tried to prepare and invite different experts who will highlight different axes and topics. We tried to open a door that we can call today “new technologies”.

According to Prof. Edeas, “We need to initiate a new kind of thinking in terms of strategies to prevent, treat and regenerate skin. When we talk about skin, we talk about the first barrier of our body, mind, perception and emotion.”

According to Prof. Doré, “We will talk about the recent mechanisms, cellular and molecular effects and metabolism. Also the impact of external factors. The new generation of natural ingredients will be also presented.”

What is the originality of Skin Challenges 2018?

For Prof. Marvin Edeas, “we tried to put over the table new players and strategic actors that we strongly think that they will play a strategic role to design the future of not only skin, but all our health.

New player 1: Skin Microbiota
We will talk about microbiota and its strategic role to maintain skin integrity. How to modulate the quality and diversity of skin microbiota?

New player 2: Skin Olfactory Receptors
How to modulate these receptors?
What kind of agonists?
What are their strategic roles in skin and other organs?

New player 3: Skin, Smell & New Technologies
We will talk about digital aroma (scent) which can activate olfactory receptors. We will highlight the role of sniff-camera to detect and analyse the quality of skin.
We will open the door to a new field which is the “digital olfaction”.

Skin Challenges Congress will be held in Porto in February 25-27, 2018. 

For more information: www.skin-challenges.com

Targeting olfactory receptors by agonists, aromas, microbiota or digital scents : Myth or Reality?

Prof. Marvin Edeas from University of Paris Descartes, INSERM 1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France will give a strategic presentation about the  “Targeting olfactory receptors by agonists, aromas, microbiota or digital scents : Myth or Reality?” during  Porto Skin Ageing & Challenges Congress 2018.

According to Prof. Marvin Edeas:

The olfactory receptor (OR) is the first protein that recognizes odorants in the olfactory signal pathway and it is present in over 1,000 genes. Olfactory receptors are G protein-coupled receptors which serve important sensory functions beyond their role as odorant detectors in the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory receptors detect volatile chemicals that lead to the initial perception of smell in the brain. 

Most ORs are extensively expressed in the nasal olfactory epithelium where they perform the appropriate physiological functions that fit their location.

However, recent whole-genome sequencing shows that ORs have been found outside of the olfactory system, suggesting that ORs may play an important role in the ectopic expression of non-chemosensory tissues.

The ectopic expressions of ORs and their physiological functions have attracted more attention recently since MOR23 and testicular hOR17-4 have been found to be involved in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and human sperm chemotaxis, respectively. Olfr1393, as a regulator of renal glucose handling, is specifically expressed in the kidney proximal tubule, which is the site of renal glucose reabsorption. Olfr1393 knockout mice exhibit urinary glucose wasting and improved glucose tolerance, despite euglycemia and normal insulin levels.

As the outermost barrier of the body, the skin is exposed to multiple environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, mechanical stress, and chemical stimuli such as odorants. Keratinocytes, the major cell type of the epidermal layer, express a variety of different sensory receptors that enable them to react to various environmental stimuli and process information in the skin. Recently, the identification of a novel type of chemoreceptors in human keratinocytes, the olfactory receptors OR2AT4, and identified Sandalore, a synthetic sandalwood odorant, as an agonist of this receptor. Sandalore induces strong Ca(2+) signals in cultured human keratinocytes, which are mediated by OR2AT4, as demonstrated by receptor knockdown experiments using RNA interference. The activation of OR2AT4 induces a cAMP-dependent pathway and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK). Moreover, the long-term stimulation of keratinocytes with Sandalore positively affected cell proliferation and migration, and regeneration of keratinocyte monolayers in an in vitro wound scratch assay. OR 2AT4 is involved in human keratinocyte re-epithelialization during wound-healing processes.

The Gut Microbiota and Olfactory Receptors are one of the intriguing phenomenons. How Gut microbiota communicate with the brain, skin, kidney, liver…? How they activate OR? What kind of agonist? This is one of questions which will be discussed.

The Digital Olfaction science needs the understanding of how to activate and modulate these multi-locations ORs. Why our nose is everywhere? Can a Digital aroma activate skin OR? A multi-disciplinary collaboration is urgently needed between experts of olfactory receptors and the digital science.

Finally, a strategic question is how digital olfaction world will establish non-verbal communication between us (our Olfactory Receptors) and the artificial systems (robots, connected devices…)?