Young Investigator Award 2026: Development of a reconstructed induced pluripotent stem cell-derived immunocompetent skin model

Skin sensitization testing is moving towards human-relevant, non-animal approaches, yet many current in vitro methods address only individual key events of the adverse outcome pathway. Here, a reconstructed immunocompetent human skin model is presented, generated entirely from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and dendritic cells. The model reproduced key structural features of human skin and enabled the combined assessment of keratinocyte activation and dendritic-cell maturation and migration following topical exposure to skin sensitizers. By integrating epidermal and immune responses within a single three-dimensional skin construct, this model provides a mechanistically informative platform for skin sensitization research and supports the development of ethically responsible testing strategies.