Research that gets under your skin

We may not think about our skin that often, but it is clearly more than just the boundary between our body and the outside world. As the outermost and largest organ of the human body, the skin is the essential barrier that protects us from various threats, such as infections, physical damage, or loss of interstitial fluid (e.g. lymph). It also helps us regulate our body temperature and forms a large surface for sensory perception of our environment.

In the SKINTEGRITY.CH research consortium, we investigate the diverse properties of the skin, especially in the context of chronic wounds, inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancer. SKINTEGRITY.CH brings together leading experts in basic research, clinical research, (bio)engineering and bioinformatics, taking an interdisciplinary approach to better understand, diagnose and treat these important diseases.

At Scientifica, we will show a device called Nimble, which uses a vacuum to measure mechanical properties of the skin, as well as parts of a “dynamic bioreactor” in which skin cells from patients can be grown into bioengineered skin substitutes. With the use of pictures and videos, we will also show how a combination of laser beams and resulting ultrasound waves can be used to take high-resolution pictures of the blood vessels under the skin. Stop by and get to know the research and the researchers up close.