Novel Methods for Epidermal BioMarker Measurements (Student Study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Novel Methods for Epidermal BioMarker Measurements (Student Study)
IRAS ID
207684
Contact name
Majella Lane
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office (JRO)
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/05/61, Data Protection Registration; 9139/001, UCL REC Approval ; R&D 16/0317, UCL JRO Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The skin is the largest organ of the human body assembling a powerful barrier for underlying tissues to protect of dehydration, mechanical stress, pathogens, radiation, and chemicals. Efficacy and plasticity of the skin barrier depends highly on the maintenance of skin hydration and integrity. The stratum corneum is the outermost skin layer in which dead skin cells are filled with proteins and lipids assembling an insoluble called cornified envelope (CE) (Menon et al., 2012). A balance in CE maturation and skin shedding preserves skin smoothness and integrity. The maturity of CE indicates the state of epithelial cell differentiation and the skin barrier integrity. Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF) is able to attract water while interacting with structural proteins thereby enhancing smoothness and mechanical elasticity (Blank, 1953). Various enzymes are involved in the process of skin shedding and NMF production that are worth being identified as an epidermal bio marker (Chavanas et al., 2006).
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1672
Date of REC Opinion
30 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion