Research and Clinical Trials at Penn Dermatology
The Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania makes fundamental discoveries in clinical and basic science research on skin biology. We regularly rank among the top three dermatology departments in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and we are one of the 6 centers in US designated as a Skin Biology Disease Research Center by the NIH. Penn Dermatology also established one of the first Clinical Trials Units in the nation that specializes in translating our basic science findings into the clinic.
Penn’s dermatology research interests include:
- Physiology of skin and hair
- Development of skin and hair
- Skin cancer (tumor) formation
- Disorders of skin pigmentation
- Autoimmune blistering diseases
- Inflammatory skin diseases (e.g. eczema, psoriasis)
- Innovating new imaging techniques to visualize skin and hair
- Wound healing
- Tissue regeneration of skin and hair
- Relationship between skin bacteria (microbiome) and its role in skin homeostasis and disease
- Dermatoepidemiology and clinical studies
We train many graduate students and postdoctoral research fellows, which is partially supported by a NIH T32 grant. We have created many training opportunities outside of the lab to help develop people into independent investigators (grant writing workshops, public speaking opportunities, teaching, and mentoring). Many alumni have established successful independent careers in academia and industry.
The combination of talented faculty, committed staff, and state-of-the-art research facilities leads Penn Dermatology to its present position as an international leader in research, teaching, and clinical practice.