SKIN MICROBIAL DEVICES

Introduction

The long-term vision and ambition of the SKINDEV consortium is to complement the human skin microbiome with Smart Skin Microbial Devices (SSMDs) in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and other dermatological conditions as a new non-invasive system for future treatment and monitoring of disease gearing up towards preventive care. This idea and new technology are groundbreaking and radical.

Objectives

SKINDEV aims to make SSMDs generally applicable through innovative technologies like sensing applications in wearables and cameras providing at-home on-demand skin health information. SSMDs will be ideal for early detection and intervention of health hazards.

Project Focus

In this Pathfinder project, the focus is on interaction at three steppingstones (SS) towards a prototype SSMD with proof-of-concept for the coupling of sensing and actuation in Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) for AD-related inflammatory processes:

1. SS1: Systems engineering to create a multi-scale computational model of AD pathophysiology.
2. SS2: Genetic engineering to create sensing and actuation circuits in C. acnes.
3. SS3: Tissue engineering to create a high throughput skin organoid platform for AD.

Technological Innovations

A priority of SKINDEV is to translate technological innovations into proof-of-concept novel devices. SKINDEV is expected to invent such new technologies to:

i. genetically modify skin microbes,
ii. create sensing modules and actuators,
iii. develop pre-clinical skin organoids and computational models for host-microbe interactions.

The work plan implements an efficient design, build, test, and learn cycle to accelerate the achievement of sensing and actuating performance fulfilling relevant physiological roles.

Collaboration

Successful achievement of these ambitious goals requires highly integrated interdisciplinary collaborations by scientists working at the forefront of relevant disciplines.