Greentech’s cutaneous biology event, the 3rd SPIM, convened in November 2012, and ran over two days bringing together more than twenty international high-level speakers.
The 3rd SPIM was particularly focused on recent scientific breakthroughs in microflora, immunity, ageing, epidermal dynamics and the cellular physiology fields. Dr Andor Pivarcsi dealt with the role of microRNAs in skin immunity, Pr Andrew Dillin with humoral control of mitochondrial form and function to promote longevity, Pr Yasuo Kitajima discussed regulation and impairments of dynamic desmosome and corneodesmosome remodelling, and Dr Geraldine Guasch spoke about TGF‚ signalling in epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and cellular transformation. Also, at the end of the congress the Greentech Awards were granted to two young researchers in recognition of their outstanding achievements. A e15,000 prize was given to Manale El Kharbili, the Greentech/SPIM Junior Scientist 2012. Manale was chosen from nine junior scientists selected and invited by the scientific committee for an oral presentation of their original works and results. Her work deals with tetraspanin 8 that promotes melanoma invasion by regulating integrin-mediated cell-matrix anchorage through the MEK/ERK pathway. A e4,000 prize was received by Léa Moulin, the Greentech/SPIM Best Poster 2012. Léa was selected by all participants of the congress. Her research was about LOXL1, a gene that is hypermethylated in aged dermal fibroblasts by a DNA methyl transferase dependant complex. The 4th SPIM will take place in November 2014.
