About us
Research conducted in Professor Roxane Pouliot’s laboratory focuses on skin tissue engineering, the epidermal barrier, and the evaluation of percutaneous absorption of active ingredients for dermatological and cosmeceutical applications. The team develops physiologically relevant in vitro reconstructed skin models that enable the study of keratinocyte differentiation mechanisms, barrier function, and the penetration of molecules through the epidermis.
At the heart of this research, the laboratory employs advanced cell culture approaches, including the reconstruction of skin substitutes at the air-liquid interface and the manipulation of primary cells derived from human donors. These models provide a better understanding of the impact of various compounds—whether therapeutic, cosmeceutical, or derived from new biotechnologies—on the structure and function of the skin.
The laboratory also specializes in evaluating in vitro skin absorption using Franz diffusion cells, in accordance with OECD standards. These systems enable the quantification, under strictly controlled conditions, of the penetration and distribution of molecules through the various layers of the skin. High-sensitivity chemical analyses, including UPLC, complement these studies and ensure precise quantification of the penetrants.
To characterize native or reconstructed skin, as well as the effects of the compounds under study, the laboratory utilizes a suite of specialized tools: TEWL for barrier integrity, histology (H&E, immunohistochemistry), optical and fluorescence microscopy, PCR/qPCR for gene expression, as well as a cryostat and microbalance for the analysis of skin layers.
By integrating these complementary approaches—tissue engineering, molecular analyses, skin diffusion, and biophysical characterization—the laboratory contributes to advancing knowledge of skin physiology and supports the development of new active ingredients, innovative formulations, and emerging therapeutic strategies in dermatology and cosmetics.
About Roxane
Roxane Pouliot is a renowned researcher in regenerative medicine, specializing in in vitro skin models, particularly for psoriasis. She is a full professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval and a regular researcher at the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center.
She holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacy (Université Laval/Paris XI) and has completed postdoctoral fellowships in biophysics (Université Laval/DiagnoCure) and biomedical engineering (Harvard-MIT).
Her academic background also includes a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s degree in organic chemistry from Université Laval.
She teaches courses such as PHA-6075 (Structure and Dynamics of the Skin) and supervises numerous graduate students.
Her work focuses on the development of psoriatic skin substitutes using tissue engineering to better understand the pathology and test new treatments.
She explores the fields of skin lipids, inflammation, premature aging (UV and cigarette smoke), and microneedle patches for drug delivery.
Current projects include immunocompetent psoriasis models, tissue corneas, functional materials, and hydrogels for psoriasis diagnostics, through 2030.
Mission
To understand the skin in all its complexity in order to revolutionize the treatment of skin diseases.
Roxane Pouliot’s team develops advanced human tissue models that accurately replicate skin physiology and its pathological alterations, such as psoriasis. By integrating tissue engineering, biophysics, pharmacy, and biomaterials, she creates robust platforms to decipher inflammatory mechanisms, lipid dynamics, environmental stresses, and the efficacy of innovative therapies.
Her mission goes beyond modeling: to accelerate the translation of fundamental discoveries into concrete clinical applications by training a new generation of scientists who are agile, interdisciplinary, and focused on making a real impact.
Vision
To redefine the standards of dermatological research by placing reconstructed human models at the heart of biomedical innovation.
The team aims to develop predictive, integrated, and scalable tissue systems that will become global benchmarks for pharmaceutical development and personalized medicine.
Long-term goal: to transform skin and corneal substitutes into strategic tools that guide therapeutic decisions, minimize clinical risks, and advance ethical, precise regenerative medicine that accurately reflects biological complexity.
Equipment
Cell Culture and Sterility
- Class II laminar flow hoods (biosafety)
- CO₂ incubators (37°C, humidity control)
- Inverted microscope for cell observation
- Cryogenic freezer (liquid nitrogen)
- Freezers (-80°C)
- Air-liquid interface culture systems
Molecular and histological analyses
- PCR or qPCR system
- Fume hood for histology
- Microtome
- Staining system (H&E, immunohistochemistry)
- Optical microscope and fluorescence microscope
- Plate reader (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence)
In vitro diffusion
- Franz diffusion cells (OECD standard)
- Multi-cell system (12 to 24 chambers)
- Temperature-controlled water bath or heating block (32°C for skin)
Skin preparation and characterization
- Dermatome to obtain a standardized thickness
- -80°C freezer or liquid nitrogen for storage of explants
- TEWL (transepidermal water loss) system
- Corneometer (stratum corneum hydration)
Chemical analysis of penetrants
- UPLC
- Sample preparation system (filtration, SPE, evaporation under nitrogen)
Quantification in skin layers
- Cryostat
- High-precision microbalance