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Skin conditions such as cancer and��Atopic Dermatitis (AD) are increasing��among Singaporeans, resulting in rising��demand for dermatological treatment��and services. The Skin Health Monitoring��Centre (SHMC) was set up to conduct��investigational clinical trials and��supports the translational focus of the��Skin Research Institute of Singapore��(SRIS). It is located at the P.H Feng��Research Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital��and is led by A/Prof Steven Thng, Chief��Dermatologist of SRIS, in collaboration��with Prof Malini Olivo from the Institute��of Bioengineering and Bioimaging��(IBB), A*STAR. It primarily focuses on��“Clinical Testing and Validation” of��next-generation AI-assisted imaging��technologies in healthy and diseased��Asian populations, as well as conducting��clinical trials for novel skin therapeutics��developed by SRIS Principal Investigators��(PIs) or local companies.

SHMC houses state-of-the-art infrastructure for non-invasive skin imaging systems, such as the handheld “Confocal Raman Spectroscopy” and “Photoacoustic Imaging” for fast and accurate depth profiling of biochemical changes in the human skin and visualization of the skin microvasculature, respectively. This is instrumental in conducting proof-of-concept studies on next-generation skin imaging devices. Photoacoustic imaging helps capture three-dimensional images of skin architecture, while handheld confocal provides biochemical composition within layers of skin. Both are useful in the management of skin cancers and inflammatory skin diseases such as AD.��

Leveraging on the clinical network and access to patients, SHMC uses photoacoustic imaging at the National Skin Centre (NSC) to manage skin cancer. Chief Dermatologist Prof. Steven Thng says, "In the past, we had to cut off a piece of skin to diagnose skin cancer. This was a surgical process requiring post-operative recovery, but now, we have a technology that can look into the skin and take photographs to diagnose skin cancer instantly and map out its margins."��

Another notable study at NSC was to characterise skin biomarkers between AD patients and healthy subjects with the help of these two advanced technologies only available at SHMC. In this study, clinicians could get a clear view of distinct vascular structures within the skin of AD patients with photoacoustic imaging and biochemical composition of the patient’s skin with confocal Raman spectroscopy at point-of-care and in real-time, which in turn help them plan long-term management of the AD condition. The chief advantage of these imaging devices is that they are flexible handheld probes providing better sensitivity than currently available table-top imaging devices and support diagnosing inaccessible body sites and providing in-depth skin profiling.��

With its twin focus of med-tech/skin imaging development as well as clinical evaluation trials, SHMC is poised to plan an instrumental role in the translation of skin research in Singapore

This article was featured in the quarterly edition of the online research newsletter e-Catalyst managed by National Health Group, Singapore. The link to the original article is

A*SRL collaborates with public sector, the medical community and industry, and contributes actively to the��Skin Research Institute of Singapore��(SRIS) - a collaboration between A*STAR, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and the National Healthcare Group. SRIS brings together biologists, engineers, and clinicians to tackle clinically important questions in skin research.

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