SCC Annual Scientific Meeting and Technology Showcase Report

By: Katie Schaefer

Posted: December 16, 2008

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C&T magazine Frontiers of Science Award Lecture—Tissue engineering: Buddy Ratner, PhD, director of the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials Engineering Research Center, and professor of bioengineering and chemical engineering at the University of Washington, spoke to attendees about the new era of tissue engineering. “I believe that tissue engineering will revolutionize cosmetic strategies and medicine in the next 10 years, which is a [relatively] short period of time,” began Ratner. He explained how tissue engineering uses ideas from biology, medicine and engineering to grow living tissues and gave examples of tissue engineering that is already taking place; for instance, a bladder, a trachea, a human fibroblast-derived dermal substitute, and teeth have already been engineered and implanted into living organisms.

Tissue engineering has saved lives; however Ratner pointed out that alternate solutions such as using pigs organs for transplant simply do not work as well. Ratner suggested that tissue engineering cannot only be used for tissue and organ repair, but can also be used for cosmetic enhancement, devices to treat diseases, food production, implantable drug delivery devices, cosmetic toxicology testing and basic studies on tissue formation. In addition, engineered tissues also could be used in wrinkle fillers and stem cell creams. For Ratner, tissue engineering ultimately will reduce deaths by replacing heart muscles or potentially, the entire heart. The possibilities are endless.

Awards Luncheon
After the morning session, attendees gathered at the awards luncheon. The prestigious Maison G. deNavarre Medal Award was presented to Kevin D. Cooper, MD, a professor and chairman of the department of dermatology, and professor of oncology and pathology, at the Case School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Cooper was recognized for his work in the biology of UV-induced immune suppression, which has been critical in the design of sunscreens with photoprotection beyond sunburn protection. He was also recognized for his research on UV radiation, including studies on antigen-presenting cells and psoriatic skin.

Additional awards were presented during the luncheon for outstanding work in the industry. These included the Shaw Mudge Award, sponsored by Ciba Corp., which was presented to Shaow B. Lin, PhD, Stephanie Postiaux and Joanna Newton, PhD, for their paper titled, Vesicular Delivery Systems: From Phospholipids to Silicones for Targeted Skin Sites. This paper was named Best Paper at the 2008 Annual Scientific Seminar.

The Allan B. Black Award, sponsored by Presperse LLC, was given to Leila S. Song, PhD, Gabriel E. Uzunian, Betty F. Aucar and James B. Carrol, Jr., PhD, for their paper titled, Complex Effect Pigments: Innovative Solutions for Ethnic Color Cosmetics. The award recognizes the best paper on makeup technology.