About the Webinar

This year is the 50 th anniversary of successful culture(s) of human keratinocytes, since the 1975 groundbreaking publication by James Rheinwald and Howard Green who identified a method allowing serial cultivation of human keratinocytes in vitro for the first time. Their research revolutionized the field of dermatology and regenerative medicine. The ability to analyze a wide range of biological data including the use of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics from cell cultures led to the discovery and identification of many new biomarkers. Since 1975 cutting edge technologies including 3D cell culture models, special biology that considers the location and interactions of cells within tissues and even artificial intelligence (AI) have advanced using findings from cell culture studies. Looking forward in vitro screening, including high throughput in vitro cell culture screening will increasingly become a valuable tool for new biomarker discoveries and advance personal skin care product
development.

This presentation will provide an example of how in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo techniques are used to evaluate efficacy of a natural plant extract, Centaurea cyanus extract (cornflower) to counter inflammation and itching. Biomarkers were used to identify the pathways for countering skin itching and inflammation using immunological skin cells responsible for cellular signaling, including mRNA associated with gene expression will be explained. The in vitro and ex vivo studies were validated with a clinical study using volunteers with atopic skin evaluated by an expert grader.
Such studies represent the current state of the art.

About the Speaker:

Howard Epstein is Technical Director, Cosmetic Actives Innovation & Applications for Susonity.  He was a scholar in residence at the University of Cincinnati department of Dermatology and received his Ph.D. from the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio during that time. He has been in the cosmetics industry for many years since he began his career formulating cosmetics for Estee Lauder, Maybelline, Max Factor, Bausch & Lomb and Kao Brands. In addition to his interest in botanicals Howard previously served as editor of the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Science and is a member of the International Academy of Dermatology. He is on the editorial board of the dermatological journal SKINmed representing the cosmetics industry to dermatologists. Howard has authored chapters in various cosmetic technology textbooks including various chapters in Harry’s Cosmeticology and holds eight patents.  He received the Maison G. deNavarre Medial Award in 2020, the society’s highest honor supporting the best interests of the cosmetics and personal care industry.