The CEntre de Recherches et d'Investigations Epidermiques et Sensorielles (CE.R.I.E.S.) has announced the winner of the CE.R.I.E.S. 2006 Research Award. Irwin McLean, PhD, DSc, FRSE has received the award for his research into the role of filaggrin gene mutations in ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic eczema.
McLean's research discovered that filaggrin gene mutations cause ichthyosis vulgaris and are predisposing factors for atopic eczema.
According to the research center, filaggrin is one of a cluster of seven large genes of the fused S100 class within the 1q21 locus. The other genes are filaggrin-2, trichohyalin, trichohyalin-like 1, cornulin, repetin and hornerin. McLean reportedly plans to use the award, a €40,000 prize, to carry out an analysis of fused S100 genes in ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic eczema.
