Edinburgh Skin Network
The Edinburgh Skin Network: Bringing people together to better understand skin health, disease and personal care.
Who we are
We are a passionate, multi-disciplinary collaboration between leading biomedical scientists, dermatologists, engineers, physicists, art historians, technology and innovation specialists united by the same vision: to accelerate next generation skincare. We were founded in 2020 by Dr Jenna Cash and Dr Ross Dobie of the Centre for Inflammation Research at Edinburgh BioQuarter. Ed-SKIN brings together those interested in skin research to facilitate knowledge exchange and fruitful collaborations, particularly across disciplines. We now have over 80 members covering the University of Edinburgh Campuses of Easter Bush, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Kings Buildings, Western General, Edinburgh College of Art, Herriot Watt University and NHS Lothian.
Skin
The skin is an incredible, complex organ that comprises multiple layers and cell types that are functionally distinct. The largest of the body’s organs, our skins’ functions encompass immune surveillance, thermoregulation, sensation and water conservation. The skin is, first and foremost, however, a protective barrier against the external environment, which is composed of physical, chemical, immune and microbiome components.
The skin is also the most important determinant of human appearance and an interface for much of our physical and social interactions with our environment. Skin diseases therefore can have a profound impact on an individuals’ mental and physical well-being. Today, 1.9 billion people, almost a third of the worlds’ population, are affected by over 3,000 skin diseases. Leading culprits are eczema, wounds, psoriasis, pruritis and skin cancers.
Research Themes
Ed-SKIN members work primarily on the following 9 research themes:
- Wounds
- Cancer
- Fibrosis
- Genetics
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Materials and Sensors
- Skin Health
- Translational Medicine
In doing so, we contribute to the progress of basic and translational skin research, providing fundamental insights for the benefit of skin health, disease and personal care.
Fostering interdisciplinary collaborations
Ed-SKIN integrates five principle disciplines to facilitate multi-disciplinary endeavours for the benefit of skin research. Our work spans basic biomedical research to unpick the complexities of skin physiology and pathology, pre-clinical models and investigative and interventional clinical trials. We develop novel therapeutic strategies and new healthcare technologies, including sensors, intelligent dressings and software which will enable more effective and efficient approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin diseases.
Our work is supported by a range of funders, including the Wellcome Trust, UKRI, charities, academic-industrial partnerships and non-commercial and philanthropic funders. Our current collaborations involve more than 50 HEIs and external companies/organisations worldwide.