Rachel Watson

Professor Rachel Watson is an Executive Director at A*STAR Skin Research Labs (SRL) and the Skin Research Institute of Singapore (SRIS). She holds adjunct roles as Chief Scientist at the National Skin Centre and Adjunct Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses on skin aging mechanisms, extracellular matrix repair, and ethnic skin differences. With a BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Sheffield, her work addresses intrinsic/extrinsic aging, Asian skin biology, and therapeutic development. She leads collaborative programs involving 18+ researchers across dermatology, bioinformatics, and genomics.

Research emphasizes menopause effects on skin biomechanics, UV-induced inflammation, and dietary interventions like omega-3 fatty acids. Methodologies include clinical trials, transcriptomics, proteomics, and advanced imaging. Her lab team comprises 9 staff scientists and research officers. Key collaborations include Johns Hopkins Dermatology, University of Manchester, and multiple A*STAR institutes.

Publications span 1997–2024, focusing on retinoid therapies, photoprotection strategies, and ethnic skin variability. Her work bridges fundamental research with clinical applications, addressing Singapore's aging population challenges and multi-ethnic healthcare needs.