Genomics Take the Cake at the SCC December Meeting

By: Rachel Grabenhofer, C&T magazine

Posted: December 28, 2010

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After the first day’s final session concluded, attendees took a short break before gathering at the venue’s Grand Ballroom for the Supplier Cocktail Reception. The ballroom was abuzz with chatter from suppliers and finished product formulators alike while the musical stylings of the SCC’s own Chemtones set a lovely pace.

The second day started with more talks on genomics, opening with a keynote by Philippe Benech, PhD (PrediGuard Inc.). Benech presented cosmetogenetics as a new approach to understanding skin physiology, noting that more and more products are reaching the consumer market claiming to act on specific genes for various effects. However, he cautioned that gene expression reflects only a snapshot in time, and that a longer span must be considered to truly understand a given effect.

Following Benech was Sohelia Anzali, PhD (Merck KGaA), who described the application of proteomics and genetics in cosmetic actives development. She gave two examples to illustrate transcription analysis with computational tools to decipher gene data. Isabelle Imbert, PhD (ISP/Vincience), then discussed how the epidermal cellular environment and proteins of the chromosomal passenger complex are involved in the homeostasis and protection of somatic stem cells in the skin. Finally, Karl Lintner (KAL’IDEES) described a study examining the ability of sphingosine-1-phosphate and/or its analog, myristylphosphomalate, to stimulate skin moisture regulation.

During the second day’s luncheon, the Robert A. Kramer Lifetime Service Award was presented to Robert Saute, PhD. This award has only been presented seven times in 23 years, according to Lochhead, and Saute accepted the award with great modesty and a tear or two. In addition, the SCC Merit Award was presented to Mindy Goldstein, PhD; the SCC installed the 2011 board of directors (see 2011 SCC Directors); and new SCC president Randy Wickett, PhD, received the presidential gavel from immediate past president Robert Lochhead. As his first act as president, Wickett then presented Lochhead with the SCC certificate of appreciation for his leadership and service.

After lunch, the final session on new technologies and trends in skin began. The session opened with Hani Fares, PhD (International Specialty Products), who compared cross-linked homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid. Fares described these materials as stabilizers for o/w emulsions with solid particles. His data showed that acrylic acid (AA) and vinyl pyrrolidone copolymer is superior to AA-based polymers in emulsions w/high levels of solids.