On the occasion of the 5th edition of the SPIM, its biennial event dedicated to skin science (physiology, biology, biochemistry, dermatology), Greentech has awarded two young researchers who were recognised for the quality of their work in skin physiology:

 The Best Junior Scientist 2016 was selected by a Scientific Committee out of a group of 9 doctoral or postdoctoral students presenting their work to scientists and industrials from the dermatology and cosmetics world. This year, the jury awarded Laura Cau, a PhD student, with a EUR 15,000 bursary. Laura is working at UDEAR (Unité Différenciation Epidermique et Autoimmunité Rhumatoïde) at the CNRS in Toulouse, France. Her project focussed on filaggrin, a epidermal differentiation marker (Role of peptidylarginine deiminases in the regulation of filaggrin proteolysis).

 Best Poster 2016. All participants voted for their favourite of the 15 posters exhibited related to skin physiology research. This year’s prize, a bursary worth EUR 4,000, was awarded to Emer Duffy, PhD from University of Tasmania, Australia, who’s currently doing post-doctoral studies at Dublin City University, Ireland. Emer’s work focusses on volatile skin molecules: “Probing skin physiology through the analysis of volatile metabolites towards non-invasive dermatological screening and diagnostics”.

150 participants

The SPIM (Skin Physiology International Meeting) was held on 17-18 November 2016 in Vichy, France. This biennial event is organised by the Greentech company Foundation and provides an opportunity for renowned scientists and young researchers from all over the world to meet and share their knowledge. The aim of the event is to encourage high-level interactive discussions allowing to enrich knowledge by bringing together a variety of disciplines, opening new areas of research and offering a showcase for students’ work.

This year, the SPIM gathered about 150 scientists of 20 different nationalities from 4 continents: Europe, Asia, America (North and South) and Africa. 21 conferences were held on scientific topics including the microbiome and autophagy, opening the way for true dermatological and cosmetic revolutions, as well as on skin structure and matrix, and on the scalp.

The event also spotlights contemporary art by exhibiting the works of internationally renowned artists, this year Robert Combas, a French artist considered to be one of the leaders of the “Figuration Libre” artistic movement.