Jean Krutmann

Jean Krutmann is Professor and leads the Environmental Skin Aging Research Group at the IUF - Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medical Research in Düsseldorf, Germany. He serves as speaker for the DFG FOR 5489 research unit and has coordinated structured research consortia including Graduate College 1033, SFB 728, and LRA Healthy Ageing.

His research focuses on molecular mechanisms of environmentally-induced skin aging and related skin disorders. Key discoveries include: (1) AHR's role in UVB stress response; (2) potential therapeutic approach for UV-sensitive Cockayne Syndrome; (3) traffic-related air pollution as causal factor for skin aging/pigmentation; (4) near-infrared radiation causing skin wrinkling; (5) definition of skin aging exposome; (6) development of ectoine-based medical device for particle-induced lung diseases with Klaus Unfried; (7) identification of two cutotypes in Han-Chinese skin microbiome.

His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on environmental factors affecting skin health, particularly air pollution, UV radiation, and climate factors. The research spans molecular mechanisms to population studies across multiple continents including Europe, China, and India. His work combines basic research with clinical applications, particularly in photoprotection and understanding skin aging mechanisms.

He collaborates extensively with national and international partners including researchers from France, Japan, USA, and China. Current projects include DFG FOR5489 (AHR signaling in skin disorders), DFG Graduiertenkolleg 2624 (biostatistical methods for toxicology), MELCAYA (melanoma in children and young adults), and international cohort studies in China and India examining pollution and climate effects on skin aging.

His research group includes postdocs Rituparna Bhattacharjee, Sonja Faßbender, Sonja Lehmann, and Marc Majora, along with technical staff supporting their work in human in vivo studies which he co-manages with S. Grether-Beck.