Dr Alina Kilasoniya, a doctor specialising in aesthetics and holder of a PhD from the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), has achieved a significant milestone by being a finalist in two consecutive editions of the prestigious international awards for innovation in aesthetic medicine organised by Merz Aesthetics. This achievement, unprecedented by any other candidate, highlights her academic excellence and innovative impact in this field, for her scientific and clinical contributions.

INNOVATION FORUM AWARDS

Merz Aesthetics organises the annual Aesthetic Medicine Innovation Awards, inviting researchers and practitioners to submit innovative ideas or research, including preclinical work, clinical work, anatomical innovations or new observations in daily clinical practice. Researchers and professionals can participate in two categories according to their professional experience (less or more than 5 years in aesthetic medicine). 

More than 400 nominations are submitted annually from around the world, from which an independent panel selects five finalists per category, based on criteria of innovation, practical relevance, etc.

The winner is chosen by a combined vote of the panel (50%) and the aesthetic community (50%) and receives an educational grant of 10,000 Euros (to be used exclusively for educational or scientific purposes, such as laboratory equipment, scientific staff recruitment, publications, medical education, etc.), as well as the opportunity to present their work in English at the Merz Aesthetics Global Expert Summit (MEXS) each year. 

UCAM RESEARCHER

Dr Alina Kilasoniya, a leading professional in the field of Aesthetic Medicine, has been a finalist in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Medical Affairs Innovation Forum, organised by Merz Aesthetics as part of the Expert Summit (MEXS). This forum brings together experts from more than 50 countries to promote innovation and scientific exchange in the field of medical aesthetics.

In 2023, MEXS was held in Barcelona (Spain), and in 2024 in Niagara Falls (Canada). During both events, Dr Kilasoniya represented Europe in the category of professionals with less than five years of experience, highlighting her brilliant academic career and her contribution in innovative research within this sector.

Recognition in 2023: Doctoral thesis at UCAM

In 2023, Dr Kilasoniya presented the findings of her doctoral thesis, entitled ‘Use of plant-derived extracellular vesicles in the management of skin ageing’, developed at the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM). Her thesis, supervised by Dr María del Mar Martínez Senac, Dr Anastasia Malek and Dr Tatiana Shtam, explored the use of plant extracellular vesicles (PEVs) as transporters of exogenous biomolecules for skin rejuvenation applications. The research isolated and characterised PEVs from diverse plant sources, such as tomato juice and chlorella culture medium, assessing their ability to accelerate healing, reduce pigmentation and prevent wrinkles and scars. This approach, for both mesotherapy and cosmetics, highlighted industrial feasibility and the need for clinical studies to validate efficacy and safety This work positions ENPs as a promising tool in modern aesthetic medicine.

Recognition in 2024: WORK IN DERMOPATHOLOGY

In 2024, Dr Kilasoniya was selected for her article entitled ‘Stimulatory Effect of Mammalian Exosomes on Intradermal Fibroblast Proliferation’, a collaborative research with Dr Lidia Zabegina, Dr Anna Artemyeva and Dr Anastasia Malek. This study investigated the effects of blood-derived exosomes on dermal fibroblasts in murine and human models. The results demonstrated how exosomes stimulate cell proliferation, as well as the production of collagen and elastin, essential for skin regeneration and rejuvenation. Using advanced techniques such as ultracentrifugation, electron microscopy and nanoparticle analysis, the structure and functionality of the exosomes were characterised. These intradermal applications offer an innovative approach to cell-free regenerative therapies, highlighting the clinical potential of these techniques to combat skin ageing.

Scientific and future impact

The joint work of Dr Kilasoniya and her collaborators not only reinforce the relevance of their contributions to aesthetic medicine, but also set new standards in the integration of biotechnology and innovative therapies Her commitment to science and excellence positions her research as a benchmark in global aesthetic medicine.