Graeme Pettet School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology Modelling the human skin equivalent construct Wednesday 22st April 14:05-14:55pm, Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre. A brief overview will be given of the development of a so called Human Skin Equivalent Construct, which will provide a significant new platform for studying growth, response and repair of human skin subjected to wounding and/or treatment under strictly regulated conditions. The successful development of this ex-vivo human skin construct will remove the need for laboratory animal testing when determining toxicity or efficacy of cosmetic or therapeutic agents. Details will also be provided of a series of mathematical models we have developed that describe the dynamics of the Human Skin Equivalent Construct, which can be used to assist in the development of the experimental protocol, and to provide insight into the fundamental processes at play in the growth and development of the epidermis in both healthy and diseased states.