THE WHAT? Beiersdorf has established a Joint Innovation Lab with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) aimed at preventing skin cancer and rejuvenating the skin.

THE DETAILS At the newly founded lab in Heidelberg, researchers will take a close look at how age-related epigenetic changes affect cellular processes, what signs of aging are associated with them and how they could possibly be turned back.

The collaboration will last four years with the two partners investing a combined €4.8 million in the project, equating to an annual contribution of €600,000 for each institution.

THE WHY? The project aims to discover how to turn back biological aging and thus reduce the risk of skin cancer; age is the most important known risk factor for developing cancer. Professor Dr Frank Lyko, Head of Epigenetics Department at DKFZ, explains, “Our vision is to specifically intervene in the skin’s epigenetics to biologically rejuvenate skin cell and potentially reduce the risk of skin cancer.

“By working with DKFZ, we will be able to speed up the search for strategies and model substances that influence both skin aging and carcinogenesis,” adds Dr. Marc Winnefeld, head of Applied Skin Research at Beiersdorf.