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Abstract: Skin diseases affect up to 30% of the current population and many undergo a long diagnostic process, often with a 3 mm punch biopsy, leaving a small scar. The gentle, 0.2 mm tiny Harpera microbiopsy could be a scar-free alternative if suitable for transcriptomics.
Another challenge in dermatology is the cellular stress from nb-UVB irradiation, the first-line therapy for e.g. atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, 222 nm UVC could be a safer, yet as anti-microbial effective, alternative, thanks to low penetration depth of UVC. Studying the cellular stress response of UVC would bring it closer to clinical routine.

Hypothesis
1. Gentle Harpera biopsies suffice for transcriptomics (genome-wide expression profiles).
2. 222 nm UVC effectively disinfects skin with less cellular stress responses than nb-UVB phototherapy.

Approach
1. Measure transcriptomics from gentle Harpera, benchmarking to 3 mm biopsies.
2. Compare cellular stress responses with and without UVC and UVB irradiation.

The proof that gentle skin biopsies deliver reliable transcriptomics would revolutionize clinical and basic research, enabling longitudinal studies and expanding outreach to underserved, rural populations. Styria’s excellent teledermatology could be further improved with remote sampling.
The proof that UVC is safely anti-microbial is one more step towards routine use, enabling disinfection without resistances, benefiting a plethora of patients and ultimately reducing health care costs.