Human healthy and disease models are required for drug discovery, pre-clinical studies and safety testing of all substances which are exposed to the skin and mucosa. We focus on human skin and mucosa biology, and in particular in generating the next generation of animal alternative methods which can be used to develop novel therapeutic strategies for treating and preventing human disease. We combine cutting-edge research in stem cell biology and immunology with advances in tissue engineering. The current focus lies with immune-competent skin and mucosa tissue-engineered constructs to understand the (patho)physiology of melanoma, adverse scar formation (keloids, hypertrophic scars) and to understand similarities and differences between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis. These pre-clinical studies run parallel with clinical studies. Recent research has extended into the field of hair follicles and importantly ‘’organ-on-a-chip’’, in particular immune competent ‘’skin-, oral mucosa-, gut-, lymph node- on-a-chip’’ “ and “melanoma-on-chip”, which has the potential to provide a personalized medicine approach to treating human skin disease.
Team leaders
Sue Gibbs
Prof. Dr Sue Gibbs studied human biochemistry and physiology at Sheffield University, England and went on to obtain her PhD in 1991 at the Department of Molecular Genetics, Leiden University. Her entire career has focused on human skin and oral mucosa biology, and in particular in animal alternative methods to develop novel therapeutic strategies for treating and preventing human disease. As a Postdoc in LUmc (1993), the development of ‘in vivo like’ human skin and oral mucosa equivalents were her major interest. She became head of the Dermatology Laboratory, VUmc in 2001. This position opened the opportunity to expand the research on tissue engineered skin for human clinical wound healing and in vitro alternatives for animal tests. In July 2012, Prof Gibbs’ leading position in the field of skin tissue engineering was be awarded with a chair as Professor of Skin and Mucosa Regenerative Medicine. This unique position is jointly supported by the Amsterdam University Medical Centre and the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA). In 2015, she received the national ‘’Lef in the Lab’’ prize by the Dutch Animal Protection society for her immune competent skin-on-chip project which has the potential to provide a personalized medicine approach to treating cancer. In 2018 she became staff member in Dept Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC to further realise the potential of human healthy and disease model technologies.
Team members
Jasper Koning
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ibrahim Korkmaz
Postdoctoral Researcher
Lin Shang
Postdoctoral Researcher
Rico Balk
Technician
Publications
- MUTZ-3 derived Langerhans cells in human skin equivalents show differential migration and phenotypic plasticity after allergen or irritant exposureAbstract To understand scar pathology, develop new drugs, and provide a platform for personalized medicine, physiologically relevant human scar models… »
- Characterization of In Vitro Reconstructed Human Normotrophic, Hypertrophic, and Keloid Scar ModelsAbstract To understand scar pathology, develop new drugs, and provide a platform for personalized medicine, physiologically relevant human scar models… »
- Evaluation of a novel oral mucosa in vitro implantation model for analysis of molecular interactions with dental abutment surfacesAbstract Background Abutment surfaces are being designed to promote gingival soft tissue attachment and integration. This forms a seal around… »
- Micro-environmental cross-talk in an organotypic human melanoma-in-skin model directs M2-like monocyte differentiation via IL-10Abstract Preclinical assessment of novel therapies to fight cancer requires models that reflect the human physiology and immune response. Here,… »
- Differential influence of Streptococcus mitis on host response to metals in reconstructed human skin and oral mucosaAbstract Background: Skin and oral mucosa are continuously exposed to potential metal sensitizers while hosting abundant microbes, which may influence the… »
Funding
2 x EuroStars (PI & co-applicant); H2020-MSCA-COFUND-2018 (co-applicant); TTW open technology (PI); NWA-Lymphchip (co-lead PI); NWA VHP4Safety (co-applicant); TTW Perspective Smart OoC (co-applicant); 2 x TKI-LSH Health Holland Past4Future (co-applicant) & Netosis (co-applicant); various direct industry funding.