The Skin Research Centre at the University of Leeds, which has led the way in the treatment of acne, eczema and other skin conditions, is the only University skin microbiology laboratory in the UK to receive the international quality standard ISO 17025. The centre has an impressive client list, with long-standing relationships with blue-chip companies such as Unilever, Stiefel, Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Smith & Nephew and 3M Woundcare - and is now seeking to increase its collaborative activity with commercial partners. "ISO 17025 accreditation is testament to the quality of our laboratory and will provide us with an added advantage when talking to potential clients," said Centre director Dr. Richard Bojar. "We are examining the different ways in which we can develop our services to the pharmaceutical, personal product and hygiene industries. Collaborative applied research is extremely valuable to us, as much of our research informs our commercial services for companies. It also works the other way, with commercial work helping to support and inform our research." The Skin Research Centre in the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences was one of the first research centres to be set up in the University of Leeds. It brings together academics, clinicians and scientists and has an established international reputation for dermatological research. Dr Bojar and his team have invested substantial resources over the past five years to ensure the centre's laboratories meet the stringent requirements required by ISO. "It has been an invaluable experience. It has really focused us on quality issues and ensures that our laboratory and systems are - and will continue to be - up to the standards set by ISO," he says. 1. The Skin Research Centre was established at the University of Leeds in 1990. It is based in the Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, part pf the Faculty of Biological Sciences, and has 13 staff. The Centre's work focuses on skin microbiology, the development of new skin treatments, tissue disinfection and sterilisation and the development of artificial skin for laboratory testing. Other research areas include assessments of antimicrobial activity of topical applications, gels and novel antibiotics, methods of in situ detection of micro organisms colonising human skin and the development of new systems biology approaches to skin care product innovation. 2. The University Leeds' Faculty of Biological Sciences is one of the largest in the UK, with nearly 150 academic staff and over 400 postdoctoral fellows and postgraduate students. The faculty's current active research grant portfolio is around £77M and funders include charities, research councils, the European Union and industry. The faculty has an outstanding research record and all major units of assessment were awarded Grade 5 in the last government (HEFCE) Research Assessment Exercise.