Professor Andrzej Słomiński from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA), an internationally recognized authority in dermatology and pathology, will be the guest of the upcoming Open Seminar organized within the WELCOME2 ERA Chair project.
For more than 30 years, Professor Słomiński has conducted pioneering research on skin biology and melanoma, with a particular focus on skin neuroimmunoendocrinology, photobiology, and the role of vitamin D and melatonin in maintaining body homeostasis. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of how the skin communicates with the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems.
The seminar will provide a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from a distinguished scientist, learn about his pioneering research, and explore the latest advances in skin biology and melanoma research.
Seminar Title: Neuro-immuno-endocrinology of the Skin: How the Environment Regulates Body Homeostasis and Allostasis
Date & Time: 22 June, 10:00 AM
Place: InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS, 18 Trylińskiego St., Conference Room “SKANDA”
We look forward to seeing you there!
Abstract
The skin functions as a neuroimmunoendocrine organ integrating environmental signals with systemic regulation. Ultraviolet radiation triggers cutaneous production of neuropeptides, hormones, cytokines, and biogenic amines including CRH, POMC-derived peptides, glucocorticoids, and serotonin, which collectively modulate brain, immune, and endocrine axes. UVB also drives synthesis of vitamin D, lumisterol, and tachysterol, which undergo enzymatic activation to generate bioactive secosteroids acting on nuclear receptors to regulate gene expression, cellular phenotype, and systemic homeostasis. Activation of cutaneous photoreceptors initiates local and central signaling, including HPA axis stimulation and neural transmission to the hypothalamus, leading to dynamic adjustments of metabolism, immunity, and stress responses. These pathways modulate innate and adaptive immunity through DAMPs, TLR signaling, and regulatory cytokines. This integrated network supports homeostasis while enabling adaptive allostasis in response to environmental stressors. Emerging evidence for skin–brain axes highlights a systemic role of skin-derived signals in health and disease.
Speaker Biography
Professor Andrzej Słomiński is a distinguished scientist and physician, internationally recognized for his contributions to the fields of pathology and dermatology. Since 2015, he has been a Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA). His research focuses primarily on melanoma, particularly on melanocyte biology and the mechanisms underlying the proliferation of these cells. He also investigates calcitriol and vitamin D receptors and how their dysfunction affects treatment outcomes and melanoma progression.
Professor Słomiński has published approximately 485 original research articles in leading scientific journals. His work has been cited more than 31,000 times, and he has achieved an h-index of 99. He is a member of several prestigious scientific societies, including the American Society of Dermatopathology and the Pan American Society for Pigment Cell Research, and serves on the editorial boards of scientific journals.
In recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements and his commitment to supporting democratic transformation in Poland, Professor Słomiński was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2009 and the Cross of Freedom and Solidarity in 2015.
