Utilization of human tissue in dermatological research

Research and commercial efforts are advancing in the use of discarded human biological tissue for dermatological and cosmetic applications.

In South Korea, 365mc, Bundang Seoul National University Hospital, and Monitcell have partnered to develop next-generation artificial skin models. This project utilizes human fat-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) to create biological scaffolds, aiming to replace animal-derived or synthetic materials. The initiative follows a South Korean legal amendment to the Waste Management Act that allows for the recycling of human-derived fat.

In the United States, Massachusetts-based startup Outer Biosciences has emerged from stealth mode, revealing technology that keeps surgically discarded human skin tissue viable for up to 30 days. Co-founded by Michael Polansky, with Lady Gaga serving on the board of directors, the company uses this living tissue to train artificial intelligence models.

This AI predicts how specific chemical compounds affect skin functions, such as collagen remodeling, pigmentation, and barrier repair. By feeding testing results back into the model, the company has reportedly increased the speed of identifying candidate compounds from one every 18 months to approximately one every six weeks. Outer Biosciences has raised roughly $23 million and intends to license discovered biological mechanisms and ingredients to pharmaceutical and beauty companies.