2011-07-22 10:00 
Cutting-edge "Omics" tools to
solve molecular puzzles in skin and hair biology, and unlock new
pathways for better skin and hair care
SINGAPORE, July 22, 2011
/PRNewswire-Asia/ --Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is at the
forefront of the "Omics" revolution -- by applying a new systems
biology approach -- with early successes in applying this
breakthrough field of science to the complex "systems" of
beauty. At the recent World Congress of Dermatology 2011,
P&G showcased some of the ways it is using "Omics" tools to
drive an advanced and holistic understanding of beauty and grooming
needs for consumers around the world: men and women, and head to
toe -- face, body, hair and scalp.
Using gene chips to analyze the
activity of thousands of genes in a single experiment, P&G
Beauty & Grooming scientists have identified a number of
pathways that have become primary research programs for new beauty
and grooming products.
The results of advanced 'Omics'
technology are utilized by Dr Rosemarie Osborne, P&G Beauty
& Grooming scientist, who is working on the next stage in
product development -- the use of in vitro models to analyze the
impact of ingredients on skin and hair.
The New Science of
"Omics"
While genomics has dominated the
beauty and grooming discussion in recent years, new advances in
genome sequencing and other "Omics" tools are enabling biologists
to shift their attention from studying individual parts within a
particular biological system to "mapping" the entire system -- from
the genome to the proteome to the metabolome.
There are more than 20,000 genes, as
many as a million proteins and thousands of metabolites underlying
our fundamental skin and hair processes. Where once scientists
could only measure one gene or protein at a time, the latest
"Omics" tools now allow us to monitor 9.4 million gene changes and
hundreds of protein expression changes or metabolites in a single
experiment.
"The secret to dramatically
accelerating data and insights in skin and hair biology lies in
bringing these tools and techniques together. The "Omics"
revolution significantly changes the way we analyze, think about
and experience beauty and grooming. It changes the rules of
the game and gives us an unrivalled insight into the molecular
pathways associated with common concerns in skin and hair biology,"
said Dr Jay Tiesman, Principal Scientist, Global Biotechnology
Division, P&G.
Dr Tiesman and other leading
scientists on the P&G team including Dr Rosemarie Osborne, Dr
John Oblong and Dr Ray Grant, have been the pioneers behind the
"Omics" revolution at P&G for over 10 years. Backed by 45
peer-reviewed articles and 90 presentations, some P&G's
innovative work and successes in applying this breakthrough field
of science to the beauty and grooming space include:
While the application of "Omics"
science has just begun, the far-reaching impact of its application
across beauty and grooming is already informing P&G's research
and taking the company's innovations across the category in new and
different directions.
Much of this effort is driven by
bringing together the extensive scientific expertise at P&G
that parallel top research institutions globally, and P&G's
progressive stance towards collaboration. A key highlight is
P&G's recent partnership with the Institute for Systems Biology
to bring deeper insights into skin biology, targeting ageing issues
as one of its key focus areas. The goal is to develop models
of the global molecular changes that occur in skin under different
conditions.
"'Omics' science is already helping
us resolve some of the most complex and intriguing puzzles that
still exist in beauty and grooming. Each puzzle we solve is not
only expanding what we know but opening up new and intriguing
future possibilities -- not only for us as research scientists but
also for the skin and hair products we all use everyday" said Dr
Jim Thompson, Associate Director, Biotechnology and Systems
Biology, P&G beauty.
About P&G Beauty and
Grooming:
P&G Beauty &
Grooming products help make beauty dreams real for women
worldwide and help men look, feel and be their best every day. With
more than 100 brands available in nearly 130 countries, P&G's
beauty and grooming products delivered sales of nearly US$28
billion in fiscal year 2007/08 , making it one of the world's
largest beauty and grooming companies. P&G Beauty &
Grooming offers trusted brands with leading technology to meet the
full complement of beauty and grooming needs,
including Pantene®, Olay®, Head &
Shoulders®, Max Factor®, Cover Girl®, DDF®, Frederic Fekkai®, Wellaflex®,
Rejoice®, Sebastian
Professional®, Herbal Essences®, Koleston®, Clairol
Professional®, Nice 'n
Easy®, Venus®, Gillette®, SK-II®, Wella
Professionals®, Braun® and a leading Prestige Fragrance
division that spans from point of market entry consumers to high
end luxury with global brands such as Hugo Boss®, Lacoste®,
and Christina
Aguilera®. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news
and in-depth information about P&G (NYSE: PG) and its
brand.
For further information, please
contact:
Tabitha Ang / Valerie
Tan
Tel: +65-6825-8074 / +65-6825-8057
HP: +65-9879-8777 / +65-985097476
Email: [email protected]/ [email protected]
SOURCE P&G Beauty and
Grooming