My name is Deborah Minzaghi, and I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, United States. I carried out my PhD in Sandrine Dubrac’s lab at the Medical University Innsbruck where I have learnt to develop 3D organotypic cultures. I now work in the laboratory of Dr. Elizabeth Frice, where our research focuses on host-microbe interactions in the skin during health and disease. We integrate in vitro human epidermal equivalent models with in vivo germ-free mouse models to investigate how the skin microbiome contributes to epidermal defense mechanisms.
Recently, we optimized a human epidermal equivalent model colonized with different species of skin commensals isolated from healthy individuals. In this system, individual species and bacterial communities remain stable for up to three days while preserving an intact epidermal barrier and enhancing barrier integrity. This model provides a valuable platform to study the impact of external stressors, such as environmental pollutants or pathogens, and to explore hoe the skin microbiome can be leveraged for protective strategies.
The NETSKINMODELS Action offers an excellent opportunity to stay up to date of the latest advances in 3D skin models within this rapidly evolving field. Its training schools, workshops, and annual meetings foster networking, knowledge exchange, skill development, and the sharing of ideas within a collaborative community of skin researchers.
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