Three-year agreement aims to expand on previous skin cancer research by John Pawelek, Ph.D.
Yale University senior researcher John Pawelek, Ph.D., entered into an exclusive three-year agreement with Amway to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying skin pigmentation. The goals of the research are to better understand human skin pigmentation disorders including hyperpigmentation and develop therapies for the conditions.
The agreement aims to expand on the finding of previous skin cancer research led by Dr. Pawelek, which helped identify several novel aspects of the cell biology of melanocytes, cells that synthesize the pigment melanin. Research will focus on determining whether the cell biology of melanoctyes culled from human melanoma biopsy samples is also present in experimental models including cell and tissue cultures.
Through the partnership Amway hopes to identify new technologies to enhance the performance of its whitening products sold under its our Artistry® skincare brand, states Catherine Ehrenberger, vp, R&D and quality assurance for Amway.
“Artistry’s goal, and mine, is to find new ways to inhibit pigmentation. We have a plan for developing products over the next several years that, for the first time, could target specific disorders,” Pawelek notes.
