SkinBioTherapeutics plc announced that it has initiated a research programme with the University of Manchester ("the University") to investigate and develop microbiome formulations that support natural anti-inflammatory response to a range of environmental challenges. Expanding the collaboration with the University was one of the areas of investment laid out by the Company when it raised funds via placing and open offer in October 2020. The programme, which will run for two years, will focus on how the microbiome can influence and rebalance the body's response to inflammation in skin health and skin disease. The immune system, as the body's biological defence system, is able to recognise potentially damaging agents, remove them and trigger repair. Inflammation is a key component of this immune response. However, immune response can sometimes become overstimulated and this can lead to chronic inflammation which is characteristic of some skin diseases e.g. atopic dermatitis, acne and rosacea. Prolonged inflammation is also associated with chronic, non-healing wounds. The microbiome, which is known to be linked with the inflammatory process, its activation and control pathways, offers a potential route to supporting the natural immune inflammatory response within products such as sunscreens. In February 2019, the US FDA issued guidance to remove two common ingredients from cosmetics and sunscreens (aminobenzoic acid and trolamine salicylate), and is in the process of evaluating further safety data on 12 other widely used ingredients, with many of the chemicals detected on the skin and in blood weeks after application1, 2. This has created a need within the sunscreen and cosmetics industries for more naturally derived ingredients that could support the body's immune inflammatory response to different environmental challenges. Working with the translational dermatology team at Manchester University, SkinBioTherapeutics has already identified a number of inflammatory pathways of interest, and routes to target these pathways with microbiome-derived regulators. Subject to a positive programme outcome, the Company intends to pursue commercialisation of any identified bacterial formulations through their addition to existing third party products or the development of new products targeted at specific conditions.