Innovations in Senescence and Cellular Energetics for Optimizing Skin Health

No7 Beauty Company, a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, is seeking partnerships in skin health, with a focus on advancing methods to monitor senescence, energetic state, and epigenetics. 

Approaches of Interest:

• Key areas of interest in energetic state include: (i) mitochondrial aging and its impact on skin cell performance; (ii) approaches to treating mitochondrial dysfunction; (iii) assessment of key markers like NADH; (iv) establishing a causal link between cellular energy production and skin performance, such as extracellular matrix production
• Key areas of interest in senescence include: (i) methods to classify cells as senescent or healthy across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models; (ii) research into senescence triggers and tissue progression; (iii) the impact of senescent cells on surrounding healthy cells; (iv) technologies for senescence prevention, including senolytics and senomorphics 
• Key areas of interest for epigenetics include: (i) research into the epigenetic changes in skin which drive ageing and the associate phenotypic changes; (ii) development of skin specific epigenetic clocks that identify methylation changes relating to environmental exposures in particular UV
• In vivo diagnostics that can provide senescence, epigenetic or cellular energetic profiles for intervention recommendations or product benefit demonstration
• Active ingredients (e.g., small molecules and peptides), adjunctive therapies (e.g., devices and penetration enhancers) and diagnostic services are of interest
• All stages of development are of interest from basic research to registration
• Research must include in vitro and/or ex vivo human tissue data (in vivo preferred) showing efficacy vs. industry benchmarks (e.g., Retinol, Vitamin C, Niacinamide), with a clear mechanism of action tied to visible, consumer-relevant skin benefits; projects should be in or moving toward human cell models

Out of Scope:

• Drug repurposing, class III medical devices, late-stage commercial products, and fully developed formulations
• Research supported by animal model data only

Submission Information and Opportunity for Collaboration

Submission of one-page, 200–300-word briefs is encouraged, along with any optional supplementary information e.g. relevant publications. No7 Beauty Company is also open to novel research proposals which can be outlined using this submission form. In submitting to this campaign, you confirm that your submission contains only non-confidential information.

Our client is open to a range collaboration opportunities, with a primary focus on the United States. The most appropriate outcome will be determined on a case-by-case basis, potentially including licensing assets, project/PhD funding, and research collaborations.