Laboratory Research

About Our Labs

Basic research faculty in the Department of Dermatology study a wide range of dermatological disorders, including skin cancers and non-cancer skin diseases such as Psoriasis, depigmentation, and skin discoloration.

Research targets in our labs range from cellular mechanisms of disease progression and drug resistance to patient presentation in a clinical setting, and our researchers are investigating new uses for current drugs such as anti-inflammatories, as well as the use of plant-based chemicals for chemoprevention.

Our world-renowned researchers are supported by grants from the Dermatology Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and several other non-profit organizations and companies.

Research Topics by Lab

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All Labs

Ahmad

  • Melanoma development and progression
  • Use of plant-based chemicals for chemoprevention
  • Role of Plk1 in Cancer
  • Role of SIRT1 in Cancer
  • Chemoprevention of Cancer by Resveratrol

Ayuso

  • Tumor microenviroment
  • Immunotherapy
  • Onco/immunometabolism
  • Tissue modeling

Chang

  • Frizzled6 signaling in hair orientation control
  • Astrotactin2 in PCP and development

Setaluri

  • Melanoma development and progression
  • Cellular mechanisms of disease progression and drug resistance
  • Melanocyte biology

Labs by Research Topic

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Labs by Topic: Skin Cancer

Melanoma development and progression

Labs by Topic: Research Target

Biomedical Engineering

Cellular mechanisms of disease progression and drug resistance

Patient presentation in a clinical setting

Research Faculty

Nihal Ahmad, PhD

Position title: Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Frederic E. Mohs Skin Cancer Research Chair

Jose M. Ayuso Dominguez, PhD

Position title: Assistant Professor, Dermatology Research Laboratories

Alexander Birbrair, PhD

Position title: Assistant Professor, Dermatology Research Laboratories

Hao Chang, PhD

Position title: Associate Professor, Cripps-Ratcliff Research Professor

Vijayasaradhi Setaluri, PhD

Position title: Professor, Evan P. & Marion Helfaer Professor

To Heal
To Educate
To Discover

Our Mission