PROJECT SUMMARY Established in 1989 The Gordon Research Conference on Barrier Function of Mammalian Skin, for over 30 years remains to be the premiere international scientific meeting that successfully incorporates multiple disciplines and topics focusing on understanding the mechanisms of mammalian skin barrier and its maintenance in health and disease. The success of the meeting (evidenced by diversity of topics and speakers, size of the applicant pool, extremely positive reviews) derives from variety in topics, gender/race/ethnicity inclusion and commitment to promote scientists in the early stage of their careers. The overarching theme of the 2023 conference is "Intelligent and personalized skin barrier: translation of cell and biology, bioengineering and physical chemistry” which will bring together a unique blend of young investigators and prominent leaders to present latest developments in cell biology, pathology, microbiology, environmental sciences, bioengineering, biophysics, physical chemistry, and drug delivery focusing on utilizing precision medicine approaches to personalize clinical care and minimize chemical exposure. The overarching objective and long-term goals of this conference is to present novel discoveries and discuss the latest developments in these different fields of expertise through both formal and informal discussions and to provide a platform for new collaborative opportunities of synergistic team approaches to facilitate future discoveries and novel therapeutic approaches that will advance this multi-disciplinary field. Moreover, the goal is also to stimulate discussions regarding new frontiers and future big questions and challenges as well as approaches to tackle them. To promote discussions and diversify of speakers and topics, all speakers will be newly invited (did not speak at the 2019 GRC) and 30% of the program will be dedicated to young investigators selected from submitted abstracts. We will hold a power hour to facilitate important discussions regarding various aspects of “discrimination in science” including promotion of racial/ethnic diversity by bringing together scientists from the diverse community of researchers working on the epidermal barrier. The major themes of the 2023 conference will include aging and environmental effects on barrier, cross talk of microbiota and host-response in homeostasis and disease, approaches to predict permeation and chemical risk exposure, optimization of drug delivery, big data and precision medicine (ranging from genomics, clinical diagnostics to imaging), and optimizing therapeutics. While these themes define the agenda, the program will incorporate short oral talks selected from the submitted abstracts. Each session will incorporate 1-2 such short talks, maximizing the opportunity to include latest research and provide a platform and visibility to young trainees. The new advances, knowledge sharing, and new multi-disciplinary collaborations forged at this conference, coupled with the interactions between attendees, will greatly advance the shared goal of understanding epidermal barrier function to improve health both locally, in the skin, and systemically.

PROJECT NARRATIVE The theme of the 2023 GRC Barrier Function of Mammalian Skin conference is "Intelligent and personalized skin barrier: translation of cell and biology, bioengineering and physical chemistry”. The meeting will bring together young investigators as well as prominent leaders to present latest developments in cell biology and pathology, microbiology, environmental sciences, bioengineering, biophysics, physical chemistry, and drug delivery focusing on utilizing precision medicine approaches to personalize clinical care and minimize chemical exposure. This shared goal will be facilitated by a diverse agenda that will include high-throughput approaches (big data, image analytics, “omics” approaches to microbiome and host response), and their implementation to understand mechanisms of barrier function, pathophysiology and customizing targeted delivery.