Clinical and Translational Research: novel designs and executions of clinical trials in skin, allergy and wound healing and integration of innovative non-invasive laser devices (e.g. Raman spectroscopy and photoacoustics MSOT) to study healthy and diseased skin in humans.
Skin Toxicology and Transcutaneous Absorption: combine and cross-validate information’s from in-vitro human 3D skin models (organotypic cultures) on microfluidic chips with in-vivo studies using novel laser devices and evaluate skin toxicology, transcutaneous absorption and metabolism of various compounds in skin; using novel CRISPR technology for real time toxicology on the organotypic skin; integrating 3D printing technologies.
Allergology and Immunology: drug induced allergies and intolerances; immunologic interactions with microbiome in skin; ethnic differences in allergic reactions; effects of pollution on allergens and immune system; role of skin barrier in skin irritation and sensitization to microbial and contact allergens.
Peripheral Opioid receptor research and Neurodermatology: Discoverer and key opinion leader of Opioid receptor system in skin and its effects on peripheral sensation (pain and itch), nerve regeneration and skin homeostasis, epidermal differentiation, adhesion, migration and their application in skin wound healing, ageing, modulation of cutaneous circadian rhythm and tumour growth. Role of peripheral nervous system and various neuropeptides/neurotransmitters in skin sensation, wound healing and interactions between peripheral nerves endings and skin cells using co-culture 2D and 3D models and electrophysiology, molecular biology and proteomics. Evaluating the role of skin cells as sensory cell with sensory receptors (e.g. olfactory, taste, opsin, touch) and modulating effects of opioids in transmitting all sensation. This includes investigations on the bi-directional interactions and role of Neuro-Immuno-Skin axis in skin pathophysiology.
Wound healing: biofilm and microbiome, wound infections; wound disorders; scar formation; novel wound dressings, allografts; cross-talk between immune cells, nerves and epidermal cells in wound healing.
Photobiology: study immediate and delayed effects of various light qualities (from UV to Infrared) on various skin cells in-vitro (including specific opsin receptors); design novel targeted photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy; development of novel devices to study standardized and reproducible the effects of defined wave lengths on skin cells in-vitro and human skin in-vivo.
Hair biology: differential expression of genes and proteins in healthy and diseased scalp skin; role of micro-RNA in hair biology and discovery of a new pathway involved in miniaturization of hair
