Mike Philpott

Professor Mike Philpott is a Professor of Cutaneous Biology at the Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. He directs the Animal Free Research UK (AFRUK) centre of excellence within the Blizard Institute and leads research focused on the biology of hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and skin cancer mechanisms.

His educational background includes a BSc in Marine Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Wales, Bangor (1986) and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford (1989). His career includes research positions at the University of Cambridge (1989-1994), Unilever Research (1994-1996), and faculty appointments at Queen Mary University of London since 1996, where he progressed from lecturer to Professor of Cutaneous Biology in 2005.

Professor Philpott's research focuses on multiple aspects of cutaneous biology, with particular emphasis on the 3R's (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and animal replacement in research. His work investigates the role of Gli2 in protecting human keratinocytes from UVB induced apoptosis, Hedgehog signaling in Basal Cell Carcinoma, oxidative stress in balding hair follicle senescence, and skin steroid synthesis in relation to hair loss and inflammatory skin conditions. He developed the groundbreaking 'Philpott model' for in vitro culture of human hair follicles, which revolutionized hair growth research.

His recent publications indicate strong research trends in understanding the molecular mechanisms of skin diseases, particularly psoriasis and skin cancer, with a focus on signaling pathways like Hedgehog and Wnt. His work bridges dermatology, molecular biology, and endocrinology to develop in vitro models as alternatives to animal testing.

Professor Philpott teaches across multiple programs including MBBS (Fundamentals of Medicine, Locomotor and Human development), BDS (Cell cycle, epithelium, skin and glands), and intercalated B.Med.Sci. and BSc courses on Stem Cells and project supervision.

His research is organized through the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research at the Blizard Institute, where he previously served as Centre lead from 2006 to 2015. He currently directs the Animal Free Research UK (AFRUK) centre of excellence, reflecting his commitment to developing alternatives to animal models in skin research.