The THREAT project, conducted in collaboration with the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, monitors 80 healthy volunteers to determine how external contactants disrupt skin function. While traditional dermatological assessments often rely on subjective observation, the NIH study employs the Nevisense platform to transmit electrical signals across the skin. This method detects resistance to electrical flow, providing an objective metric for barrier health that complements traditional molecular and microbiome analysis.
NIH Adopts SciBase Technology for Environmental Skin Research
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has tapped Stockholm-based SciBase to provide the primary measurement tool for its new THREAT study. By utilizing Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy, researchers aim to quantify how common environmental exposures—ranging from synthetic fabrics to household detergents—actively compromise the integrity of the human skin barrier.
This deployment marks a significant validation for the Swedish firm’s technology, which was developed over two decades at the Karolinska Institute. According to CEO Pia Renaudin, the selection of EIS as a primary endpoint underscores its growing clinical relevance beyond standard diagnostics. By integrating this hardware into a controlled environmental challenge, the team intends to establish a baseline for how daily lifestyle factors influence long-term dermatological health, potentially reshaping standards for future cosmetic and clinical skin care research.
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