About the Lab:

Dr. Payne’s research focuses on skin blistering diseases, with specific interest in the autoimmune blistering disease pemphigus. Her laboratory has contributed to several areas of investigation including: a) cloning and characterization of B-cell repertoires to understand how autoimmunity occurs in pemphigus; b) cell biologic studies to understand mechanisms for loss of keratinocyte cell adhesion; c) collaborative research to advance clinical trials in autoimmune blistering disease. She serves as Director of the Skin Procurement and Engineering Core for the SBDRC, which helps to procure primary keratinocytes and skin samples from patients with various skin conditions and from unaffected individuals. Dr. Payne has served as chair of admissions for the Cell Biology and Physiology PhD program, Associate Director and co-chair of Admissions for the Penn Medical Scientist (MD-PhD) Training Program, faculty advisor for the Association for Women Student MD-PhDs, and co-chair of the Dermatology research residency program. She is an excellent role model as a physician scientist whose clinical interests inform her basic and translational research.

Training Information:

Dr. Payne is Associate Director of the Penn Medical Scientist Training Program and faculty advisor for the Association of Women Student MD-PhDs (AWSM). She has demonstrated strong a commitment to training in her own lab. She has mentored numerous postdoctoral fellows, PhD candidates, masters students, and medical trainees in the mechanisms and treatments of autoimmunity. Her lab alumni have gone on to successful careers in medicine and research, both in academia and industry.

Current and Former T32 Trainees:

Christoph T. Ellebrecht, MD

Eric M. Mukherjee, MD, PhD

Michael T. Cho, PhD