Skin Anarchy – Masterclass Monday: Understanding the Fundamentals of Clinical Trials in Skincare ft. Timeline and Dr. Brad Currier

Podcast Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Dr. Ekta (A)
Guest: Dr. Brad Currier (B), Manager of Clinical Trials at Timeline

Episode Overview

In this deep-dive "Masterclass Monday," Dr. Ekta and Dr. Brad Currier unravel the science and process behind clinical trials in skincare, centering on Timeline's rigorous approach. The conversation covers the necessity, design, and relevance of clinical studies, how brands substantiate claims (or don’t), what meaningful skin trials should look like, and the hurdles specific to topical products. Dr. Currier provides unique insights into how Timeline measures and markets its mitobiotic skincare, especially with ingredients like Urolithin A (Mitopure), rooting the discussion in science over fluff.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Currier's Background and Journey to Timeline

[01:16-03:14]

• Academic roots in muscle physiology and sports science, leading to clinical research in aging and exercise.
• Shifted focus from elite athlete performance to broader impacts on healthy aging, influenced by personal experience.
• Brought clinical trial expertise to Timeline to manage their science-first, evidence-based research in skincare.

Quote:

"I was getting a bit of an appetite for doing something that was a bit more applicable... It was more exciting to me to think of doing something that could have a meaningful impact in hundreds of thousands of people's lives."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [01:39]

2. Why Physiology Matters in Skin & Muscle Health

[03:14-06:46]

• Dr. Ekta highlights the lack of physiological education in skincare and medicine.
• Dr. Currier draws parallels between muscle and skin: both are metabolically active, rich in mitochondria, and foundational to healthy aging and appearance.
• Facial muscles’ atrophy/hypertrophy significantly affect aesthetics, something often overlooked in standard care.

Quote:

"One muscle, in many cases, is rightfully considered a key longevity organ...I think there's a lot of parallels that we can look at with skin. Both muscle and skin are rich with mitochondria."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [04:08]

3. Timeline’s Approach to Clinical Trials & Mitochondrial Health

[06:46-08:20]

• Timeline’s core ingredient, Mitopure (Urolithin A), is derived from long-term research into postbiotic molecules from natural sources (pomegranates, nuts, berries).
• Early animal and preclinical studies showed mitochondrial improvements before shifting to human clinical trials, first focusing on muscle, now skin.
• Mitochondrial impact remains a central “pillar” in all their studies.

4. The Value and Structure of Clinical Trials in Skincare

[08:20-10:58]

• Clinical trials deliver confidence—the ability to know, not just hope, that products have a benefit.
• Consumers should look for:
  • Human clinical data (not just preclinical or anecdotal evidence).
  • Claims substantiated by measurable, objective outcomes (e.g., reduction in wrinkling/hydration), not just self-reported impressions.
• The lack of standardization in cosmetics requires extra consumer vigilance to separate marketing from real, replicable results.

Quote:

"Clinical trials, the reason they are so important is one word: confidence. How sure can we be that something is having an effect?"
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [08:58]

5. Unique Challenges in Topical Clinical Research

[10:58-14:04]

• Cosmetic and skincare trials lack the rigor and standardization of pharmaceuticals; cost, time, and method selection are major hurdles.
• Brands often cut corners, leading to less reliable data.
• Use of organoids and in vitro studies is rising, but human data remains essential for trust.

Quote:

"These studies, it's not a cookie cutter method ... you need to do an increasingly good job ... of educating consumers on how that may look."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [11:26]

6. Hallmarks of Quality Clinical Trials: What to Look For

[14:04-16:10]

• Search for brands that:
  • Pre-register their trials (publish detailed protocols in public registries).
  • Publish studies in peer-reviewed journals, not just "white papers."
  • Make full study data easily accessible, not hidden in fine print.
• Pre-registration and full publication demonstrate transparency and help minimize bias.

Quote:

"And a white paper is not a publication, right?"
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [16:07]

7. Consumer Empowerment and Industry Shifts

[16:10-17:32]

• Dr. Ekta urges consumers to demand robust, transparent data.
• Brands not substantiating claims should admit it, not “sugarcoat” via marketing.
• Science-driven brands are now setting higher standards, with data to back up efficacy and safety.

8. Timeline’s Clinical Findings and Product Efficacy

[17:32-19:50]

• Timeline has completed its 12th clinical trial; all products are tested for safety and aging endpoints:
  • Wrinkle reduction: Typically 10–30% reduction over 1–2 months.
  • Improved skin hydration, barrier function, and collagen synthesis.
  • Eye cream shows standout efficacy for wrinkle reduction.

Quote:

"You’ll see anywhere in the range of, depending on the duration of the study, 10 to 30% reduction in wrinkling over a month or two..."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [18:40]

9. The Concept of “Mitobiotic” and Mechanisms of Action

[19:50-23:51]

• "Mitobiotic" reflects products purposely nourishing mitochondria, our key energy-producing organelles.
• Early studies included skin biopsies to measure gene/protein changes—showed upregulation of collagen and improved skin matrix.
• These mechanistic data inform future product development for precision longevity, not just “umbrella” anti-aging.

10. Measuring Mitochondria and Ethical Trial Design

[24:06-26:56]

• Direct measurement of mitochondria in humans is invasive (requires biopsies); subsequent trials focus on visible, functional outcomes (wrinkles, barrier function) after basics are established.
• Ethical responsibility: trial design must balance scientific rigor with participant burden.

Quote:

"A lot of the trials we've run...are more phenotypic or physical outcomes, where the mechanism is understood. Now we're seeing if different outcomes such as barrier function or skin wrinkles or hydration are impacted differently..."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [25:27]

11. Ingredient vs. Product Claims: A Key Distinction

[27:44-30:00]

• Exceptionally important: Many brands claim efficacy at the ingredient level (often based on preclinical or in vitro data), not for the final, marketed product.
• Real-world product testing is the true gold standard as stability and interactions change post-formulation.

Quote:

"...Oftentimes you'll just get people mixing ingredients together and claiming based on what they put in it—not on what the complete product does."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [27:44]

12. The Cost of Quality: Pricing, Clinical Trials, and Value

[30:50–32:25]

• Clinical research is expensive and labor-intensive; expect higher prices for products backed by solid science.
• Dr. Ekta advocates buying one proven product over several with no data, underscoring value over volume.
• Hiring scientists and conducting trials is a hallmark of serious brands.

Quote:

"If they're doing it right, they're not gonna be able to sell that thing to you for 20 bucks."
— Dr. Ekta (A), [31:29]

13. Clinical Takeaways for Practitioners

[33:01-35:32]

• For medical professionals:
  • Look for objective data: safety, stability, efficacy (wrinkling, hydration, barrier improvement).
  • Special highlight: Timeline's exfoliator significantly improved cell turnover without compromising barrier function—a rare and valuable result.

Quote:

"...The exfoliator did significantly improve skin cell turnover and renewal, but the barrier function wasn't compromised when we did that."
— Dr. Brad Currier (B), [34:25]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Clinical trials = confidence." ([08:58])
• "White paper is not a publication." ([16:07])
• "Why aren't we asking for data on the whole formula, not just the ingredient?" ([28:36])

Standout Segment Timestamps

• Dr. Currier’s journey & philosophy: [01:16–03:14]
• Muscle-skin parallels in aging: [04:08–05:39]
• Mitochondrial focus in Timeline’s trials: [06:46–08:20]
• Consumer advice on evaluating claims: [08:56–10:58], [14:04–16:10]
• Ingredient vs. full product evidence: [27:44–30:00]
• Barrier-safe exfoliation clinical finding: [33:38–35:32]

Conclusion

This episode arms listeners with a critical lens to assess skincare claims and clinical trial relevance. Dr. Currier’s clear, accessible explanations, peppered by Dr. Ekta’s probing questions, shine a spotlight on what responsible, evidence-based skincare research looks like—and why consumers and clinicians should demand more. Timeline’s methodologies, focus on mitochondria, and transparent data make it standout in an industry rife with marketing over substance.

For further info, Timeline and Dr. Currier welcome direct queries, promoting transparency and education as core to their mission.