34144An advanced Skin Care Test Platform for UV Chemical FiltersClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe skin is the protective outer layer of the body. It is effective in preventing damage from a range of biological and environmental agents during its lifetime including pathogens, UV radiation and pollution. Despite its effectiveness in this task, the skin requires the application of topical agents to enhance and improve its function. One such product are sunscreens, which are required to prevent the effects of excessive UV exposure that can lead to the formation of skin cancer. Although sunscreens have a clear therapeutic function, in Europe they and other skin care products are regulated as cosmetics, meaning they are subject to the animal testing ban (in place since 2013). The problem is there are many examples where scientists have not been able to provide suitable human replacement laboratory tests for the animal experiments. This means that some sunscreens and skin care product development has all but halted in Europe as the safety of these new products cannot be ensured. Keratify is creating new technology to improve laboratory skin testing so that new cosmetics, including sunscreens, can be developed safely.