Invited Speaker: Models for Predicting Functional Response to Drug and Vaccine Delivery To and Through Skin

Pre-clinical research commonly exploits animal models to determine drug release into, and permeation through, the skin. Given the significant inter-species differences in skin structure (epidermal and dermal thickness, hair follicle distribution) and skin biology (metabolism, immune function) more predictive laboratory models are required. Excised human skin represents a viable model for relevant physical, biomechanical and biological assessments that can complement animal studies and non-invasive human volunteer studies to better understand the feasibility of new intradermal and transdermal drug delivery approaches.