UNIVERSITY of Bradford scientists are helping to open new areas of research into the skin microbiome - a commercial marketplace which could be worth as much as $1.85bn in the coming decade.

Much like the better-known gut microbiome, which is a collection of friendly bacteria, the skin has its own community of microorganisms, whose job is to protect us from infection and maintain a healthy state.

However, scientists are only now beginning to understand the complexity of the skin microbiome, which makes it an area ripe for new research which could lead to new healthcare treatments.

The University of Bradford has already established itself as a leading centre of expertise, thanks to the commercial success of the Centre for Skin Sciences over the past decade.

It has been led by Professor Julie Thornton, of the multi-disciplinary UKRI-funded Skin Microbiome in Healthy Ageing (SMiHA) project - one of 11 new networks funded by BBSRC/MRC.

Dr Gillian Westgate is business development manager in the Centre for Skin Sciences, in the Faculty of Life Sciences.

She said: “Many companies do not have the capacity to do this sort of research in-house, nor the breadth of knowledge, or research environment.

“Ultimately, companies have a choice of how they commission research, but when they choose to work with a university, such as ours, they not only get what they asked for, but also the benefit of the wider research environment.”

Most recently, the University organised and led a ‘sandpit’ event with the SMiHA network, bringing together experts from industry and academia.

Professor Julie Thornton said: “As the only network focused on skin, SMiHA aims to discover more about the role of the microbiota that live on our body and how this community of microorganisms contribute to health and wellbeing, especially in older people. 

“Feedback from all participants demonstrated an overwhelming desire and excitement to work together with industry in this network

“Areas of innovation that were raised as priority included women's health and to understand the impact of the menopause in skin, as well as in intimate health, acne and wound care strategies, working with the microbiome as opposed to conventional anti-microbial approaches, and the need to develop laboratory models to explore innovative approaches to managing skin health via targeting the microbiome.”

For more on the SMiHA network, contact Rachael Williams at r.williams12@bradford.ac.uk