Staff profile

Dr Victoria B Maltman is a Teaching Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Biosciences. Her work brings together biomedical education, human tissue engineering and industry-linked research, with a particular focus on skin biology and the development of three-dimensional human skin models.

Victoria’s research explores how skin responds to ageing, environmental stressors and grooming practices. She uses bioengineered human skin equivalents to investigate cellular and tissue responses, including the effects of retinoids, changes in dermal fibroblast biology and the impact of wounding on skin health. Through collaborative projects with industry, she contributes to the development of experimental models that connect fundamental biological understanding with questions relevant to product development.

Victoria completed her BSc in Biomedical Science, MSc in Human Stem Cell Biology and PhD in Developmental Neural Biology at Durham. Her Doctoral research investigated the effects of natural and synthetic retinoids on neural development. Her subsequent career has spanned academic research and commercial biotechnology, including work on stem cell differentiation and the development of enabling technologies for cell biology. In 2018, she was awarded a Daphne Jackson Fellowship to investigate the effects of retinoids on skin health during ageing and exposure to external stressors.

Teaching and Educational Leadership

Victoria teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, contributing to cell biology, cancer biology, stem cells, tissue engineering and biotechnology. Her teaching connects core biological concepts with contemporary research and practical applications, using lectures, small-group tutorials, laboratory classes and interactive workshops.

As Biomedicine Theme Lead, she contributes to the strategic development of the undergraduate curriculum, working collaboratively to strengthen progression, integrate current biomedical research and enhance the student learning experience.

Victoria supervises undergraduate, integrated master’s and doctoral research students and contributes to postgraduate assessment and academic advising. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a trained fellowship mentor and assessor, and an alumna of the Aurora Leadership Programme.

Engagement and academic citizenship

Victoria contributes to academic leadership, research culture and public engagement. Her roles have included Co-Chair of the Shadow Faculty of Science Research Committee and departmental responsibilities supporting laboratory sustainability. She also participates in widening-participation summer schools and science outreach, introducing school students to tissue engineering and bioengineered skin models. Beyond the university, she serves as Chair of Governors of a local Secondary School.

Indicators of Esteem

• Teaching recognition: Shortlisted for Durham University’s Innovation in Teaching Award (2026) for the design and delivery of the postgraduate Biotechnology Literature Review module; nominated for Tutor of the Year (2025).
• Research Fellowship: Awarded a Daphne Jackson Fellowship (2018–2020) supporting research into retinoids, skin ageing and responses to external stressors.
• Invited Peer Review: Invited manuscript reviewer for journals such as the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2026), Investigative Dermatology (2025), Frontiers in Medicine (2024).
• Invited Speaking: Invited speaker at the Daphne Jackson Fellows Conference, sharing her experience of returning to research.
• Professional Recognition: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with additional contributions as a trained fellowship mentor and assessor; Aurora Leadership Programme Alumna

Chapter in book

• Biometric Quantification of Keratinocyte Turnover Using Bioengineered Human Skin Equivalents.
  
  Abraham, G., Maczkowska, J., Gilmore, R., Barrett, N., Simpson, J., De Los Santos Gomez, P., Goncalves, K., Maltman, V., & Przyborski, S. (2025). Biometric Quantification of Keratinocyte Turnover Using Bioengineered Human Skin Equivalents. In J. M. Walker (Ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2025_673
• Visualization and Quantification of Basal Melanocytes Within a 3D Bioengineered Skin Equivalent.
  
  Barrett, N., Lindsay, M., De Los Santos Gomez, P., Simpson, J., Maltman, V., Goncalves, K., & Przyborski, S. (2025). Visualization and Quantification of Basal Melanocytes Within a 3D Bioengineered Skin Equivalent. In J. M. Walker (Ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2025_672
• Engineering a Pigmented Skin Equivalent That Is Responsive to External Stimuli
  
  De Los Santos Gomez, P., Goncalves, K., Maltman, V., Smith, L., & Przyborski, S. (2025). Engineering a Pigmented Skin Equivalent That Is Responsive to External Stimuli. In T. Biedermann & S. Böttcher-Haberzeth (Eds.), Skin Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols (pp. 115-134). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-4510-9_9

Journal Article

• An Innovative Bioengineering Approach to Investigate the Response of Melanin-Rich Cells to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL).
  
  Goncalves, K., Shah, K., Maltman, V., Chen, Y., Barrett, N., Abraham, G., Ambrogio, I., DiColandrea, T., Snowball, J., & Przyborski, S. (2026). An Innovative Bioengineering Approach to Investigate the Response of Melanin-Rich Cells to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). Cells, 15(10), Article 859. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15100859
• Cell Senescence-Independent Changes of Human Skin Fibroblasts with Age
  
  Fullard, N., Wordsworth, J., Welsh, C., Maltman, V., Bascom, C., Tasseff, R., Isfort, R., Costello, L., Scanlan, R., Przyborski, S., & Shanley, D. (2024). Cell Senescence-Independent Changes of Human Skin Fibroblasts with Age. Cells, 13(8), Article 659. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13080659
• Quantitative morphometric analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic skin ageing in individuals with Fitzpatrick skin types II–III
  
  Costello, L., Goncalves, K., De Los Santos Gomez, P., Simpson, A., Maltman, V., Ritchie, P., Tasseff, R., Isfort, R., Dicolandrea, T., Wei, X., Määttä, A., Karakesisoglou, I., Markiewicz, E., Bascom, C. C., & Przyborski, S. (2023). Quantitative morphometric analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic skin ageing in individuals with Fitzpatrick skin types II–III. Experimental Dermatology, 32(5), 620-631. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.14754
• Regulation of epidermal proliferation and hair follicle cycling by synthetic photostable retinoid EC23
  
  Määttä, A., Nixon, R., Robinson, N., Ambler, C. A., Goncalves, K., Maltman, V., & Przyborski, S. (2023). Regulation of epidermal proliferation and hair follicle cycling by synthetic photostable retinoid EC23. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 22(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.15629
• Development of a novel in vitro strategy to understand the impact of shaving on skin health: combining tape strip exfoliation and human skin equivalent technology
  
  Costello, L., Goncalves, K., Maltman, V., Barrett, N., Shah, K., Stephens, A., Dicolandrea, T., Ambrogio, I., Hodgson, E., & Przyborski, S. (2023). Development of a novel in vitro strategy to understand the impact of shaving on skin health: combining tape strip exfoliation and human skin equivalent technology. Frontiers in Medicine, 10, Article 1236790. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1236790
• The vitamin A ester retinyl propionate has a unique metabolic profile and higher retinoid‐related bioactivity over retinol and retinyl palmitate in human skin models
  
  Bjerke, D. L., Li, R., Price, J. M., Dobson, R. L., Rodrigues, M., Tey, C., Vires, L., Adams, R. L., Sherrill, J. D., Styczynski, P. B., Goncalves, K., Maltman, V., Przyborski, S., & Oblong, J. E. (2021). The vitamin A ester retinyl propionate has a unique metabolic profile and higher retinoid‐related bioactivity over retinol and retinyl palmitate in human skin models. Experimental Dermatology, 30(2), 226-236. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.14219
• Novel Silicon‐Containing Analogues of the Retinoid Agonist Bexarotene: Syntheses and Biological Effects on Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
  
  Bauer, J. B., Lippert, W. P., Dörrich, S., Tebbe, D., Burschka, C., Christie, V. B., Tams, D. M., Henderson, A. P., Murray, B. A., Marder, T. B., Przyborski, S. A., & Tacke, R. (2011). Novel Silicon‐Containing Analogues of the Retinoid Agonist Bexarotene: Syntheses and Biological Effects on Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. ChemMedChem, 6(8), 1509-1517. https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.201100156
• Retinoid supplementation of differentiating human neural progenitors and embryonic stem cells leads to enhanced neurogenesis in vitro.
  
  Christie, V., Maltman, D., Henderson, A., Whiting, A., Marder, T., Lako, M., & Przyborski, S. (2010). Retinoid supplementation of differentiating human neural progenitors and embryonic stem cells leads to enhanced neurogenesis in vitro. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 193(2), 239-245.
• Proteomic profiling of the stem cellresponse to retinoic acid and synthetic retinoid analogues: identification of major retinoid-inducible proteins
  
  Maltman, D. J., Christie, V. B., Collings, J. C., Barnard, J. H., Fenyk, S., Marder, T. B., Whiting, A., & Przyborski, S. A. (2009). Proteomic profiling of the stem cellresponse to retinoic acid and synthetic retinoid analogues: identification of major retinoid-inducible proteins. Molecular BioSystems, 5(5), 458-471. https://doi.org/10.1039/b817912c
• The role of retinoids in the adult nervous system and their therapeutic potential
  
  Christie, V., Marder, T., Whiting, A., & Przyborski, S. (2008). The role of retinoids in the adult nervous system and their therapeutic potential. Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 8(6), 601-608.
• Synthetic retinoid analogues induce model cell culture systems to differentiate down a neural lineage
  
  Christie, V. (2008). Synthetic retinoid analogues induce model cell culture systems to differentiate down a neural lineage. Journal of Anatomy.
• Synthesis and evaluation of synthetic retinoid derivatives as inducers of stem cell differentiation
  
  Christie, V., Barnard, J., Batsanov, A., Bridgens, C., Cartmell, E., Collings, J., Maltman, D., Redfern, C., Marder, T., Przyborski, S., & Whiting, A. (2008). Synthesis and evaluation of synthetic retinoid derivatives as inducers of stem cell differentiation. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 6(19), 3497-3507. https://doi.org/10.1039/b808574a
• Following the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells by proteomic identification of biomarkers
  
  Hayman, M., Christie, V., Keating, T., & Przyborski, S. (2006). Following the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells by proteomic identification of biomarkers. Stem Cells and Development, 15(2), 221-231. https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2006.15.221
• Human embryonal carcinoma stem cells: Models of embryonic development in humans
  
  Przyborski, S., Christie, V., Hayman, M., Stewart, R., & Horrocks, G. (2004). Human embryonal carcinoma stem cells: Models of embryonic development in humans. Stem Cells and Development, 13(4), 400-408.
• Manipulation of human pluripotent embryonal carcinoma stem cells and the development of neural subtypes
  
  Stewart, R., Christie, V., & Przyborski, S. (2003). Manipulation of human pluripotent embryonal carcinoma stem cells and the development of neural subtypes. STEM CELLS, 21(3), 248-256. https://doi.org/10.1634/stemcells.21-3-248