SkinBioTherapeutics PLC (LON:SBTX) said it will fulfil the industrial partner role in a skin health research grant awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to the University of Manchester.
The AIM-listed skin health company said the £600,000 grant would provide the university with non-dilutive funding for up to three years to investigate how ageing affects the skin and in particular, its microbiome.
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The firm said that in the human gut, it is currently understood that certain fibres can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria (called a 'prebiotic effect'), but research was needed to determine how this principle could be applied to skin health and which molecules could be prebiotic for the skin's microbiome.
SkinBio added that the grant had been awarded to enable research which could lead to the development of novel ways to improve the health of the skin microbiome during ageing and in turn, support new approaches to prevent age-related skin conditions and promote long-term skin health.
The group said, as industrial partner to the research programme, it had first refusal on any intellectual property generated by the project, in addition to being well placed to develop any relevant findings and potentially extend its current portfolio.
Dr Catherine O’Neill, chief executive of SkinBioTherapeutics, said: "We have a long-standing relationship with the University, and I am delighted this will continue through this latest collaboration. It is testament to both teams that we have been successful with such a prestigious award.
She added: "Unlike the gut, virtually nothing is known about possible prebiotics for skin. This study will provide the foundations for developing novel prebiotic treatments for aged skin. This work is very complementary to the work that we have already underway at SkinBioTherapeutics in skin care, anti-infection and repair."
In early morning trading Tuesday, SkinBio shares were up 2.9% at 17.5p.
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