This is an exciting time to be working
in the field of life sciences, such as skin biology and physiology.
A tissue with all essential biological processes located at the interface
of our environment, e.g. from stem cells to differentiation processes,
controlled apoptosis to perfect barrier formation and many more. The
genetic code, the proteomic network and cellular machinery are being
unravelled at an ever increasing speed and we are moving from molecules
to mechanisms. The barriers between disciplines are disappearing allowing
an understanding of the essential barrier systems of skin and its
implication to pharmacology. Physicians, pharmacologists, biochemists,
cell biologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, immunologists,
microbiologists, molecular biologists and neurobiologists are now
all using the same molecular tools and speaking the same scientific
language. To encourage interdisciplinary working and hold the excitement
of to-day, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology need a platform for scientific
exchange and cooperation in the fields of Genomics and Proteomics
of the skin, Metabolism, Morphomics, Pharmacology, Immunology, Oncology,
and Pharmaceutics of the skin and Regulatories.
Therefore, a new organization named ISP – International
Society of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology has been launched,
which will work in parallel and in close cooperation with the existing
national and international societies and workgroups. Its initial goal
is to provide a high profile international forum serving the interests
of the scientific community. It will promote the scientific activities
of skin pharmacology and physiology, using molecular tools and state-of-the-art
techniques and methodology. The membership of the society is open
to individuals and institutions from all over the world.
The highlight of the meeting, which will be organized each year,
will be the presentations concerning current scientific progress
in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, as well as the poster discussion
sessions, which will take place in the midst of the scientific exhibition.
The scientific exhibition is planned to present the opportunity
for industry to display their products to the community. A major
goal is the intensification of the cooperation between public research
institutions and industry and the know-how transfer of basic results
and methods for industrial application. Another important function
will be the promotion of public understanding of new developments
in the field of skin health and to provide a critical forum for
discussing their implications for society.
The Journal
of Skin Pharmacology and Skin Physiology is the journal of the
ISP and will provide current information on new research topics
and results. It is a base for the presentation of results also obtained
by industry. The Society is a platform to attract young qualified
scientists in industrial research and development, as well as from
basic science institutions. It will bridge research with legislative
authorities in skin pharmacology and skin physiology. Furthermore,
it will interact with international organizations (e.g. NIH, WHO,
European Union, European Regulatory Org., NIST, etc.) and play an
active role in shaping research policies.
The Society was founded in December 2003 in Basel, supported by
the publishing company Karger AG. The founding committee have elected
Jürgen Lademann as President, Christian Surber as Vice-President,
and Joachim Fluhr as Secretary of the ISP. Working groups representing
different areas of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology have been established.
The organization has been set out by this council, which is also
responsible for the planning and activities of the meetings. The
first ISP meeting will take place in Orlando, USA on 31.10.2004
as a satellite symposium of the ISBS Conference (International Society
for Bioengineering and the Skin), and the second meeting will be
held in May 2005 in Hamburg, Germany, together with the Society
of Cutaneous Ultra Structure Research.
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