Research Funding/Grants
NIH/NCI
“Functional and therapeutic significance of plk4 in melanoma”
The objective of this study is to determine if the polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) along with other melanoma driver pathways, is a therapeutically actionable druggable target for melanoma management, and what are the mechanisms and interacting partners of PLK4, during melanocytic transformation and neoplastic progression.
UWSDRC Pilot Program
“Novel natural agents for inhibition of PLK4 for melanoma management”
The major goal of this project is to generate preliminary/feasibility data for P01 project #1: Novel natural agents for inhibition of PLK4 for melanoma management.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs
“Combined inhibition of PLK1 and NOTCH for melanoma management”
The major goal of this project is to i) determine the therapeutic efficacy of a simultaneous targeting of PLK1 and NOTCH, two biologically informed novel melanoma targets, for the management of metastatic and drug- resistant melanoma, and ii) identify novel signaling mechanisms associated with their biological responses, using human-relevant melanoma mouse models.
Department of Veteran’s Affairs
“Role of sirtuin 6 in melanoma development and progression”
The major goal of this project is to determine the role and functional significance of SIRT6 in melanoma development and progression.
Dermatology Foundation
“Precision-Based Treatment for Port Wine Birthmarks”
AMGEN, INC
“A Phase 3b, MultiCenter, Open-Label Long-Term Extension Study of Apremilast (CC-10004) In Pediatric Subjects from 6 Through 17 Years of Age With Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis”
LILLY (ELI) & Company
“CTA for A Phase 3 Double Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Baricitinib in Children from 6 years to Less Than 18 Years of Age with Alopecia Areata”
CELGENE Corp.
“CTA for A Phase 3, Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast (CC-1004) In Pediatric Subjects From 6 through 17 Years of Age With Moderate to Severe-Plaque Psoriasis”
UW SEED Program
“Griddient plate: a platform for 3D in vitro culture to generate reconfigurable gradients”
The goal of this project is the development of a microfluidic platform to generate reversible gradients on-demand.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Partnership (EBRP)
“Microphysiological systems to evaluate new therapies for epidermolysis bullosa”
Major goals: Developing a microphysiological system of skin to study gene and cell therapy for epidermolysis bullosa.
American Cancer Society IRG Pilot Award
“Role of PAC1 in Melanoma Progression”
The goal of the pilot award is to understand the role of PAC1 in the melanoma microenvironment.
Wisconsin Partnership Program
“Defining a neuron-pericyte axis via the neuropeptide receptor PAC1 in melanoma”
Major goal: To understand how the nervous system signaling via the neuropeptide receptor PAC1 affects melanoma progression.
NIH/NIGMS
“Signaling pathways in skin patterning and polarity”
The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway regulates the normal development of a variety of tissues and organs. Defects in PCP have been associated with many human diseases. The goal of this project is to deepen our understanding of the mammalian PCP pathway and thus provide insights leading to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for PCP-related diseases.
Department of Veterans Affairs
“Planar cell polarity control in melanoma metastasis”
The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that Frizzled 6 promotes melanoma invasion and metastasis by regulating cell polarity and could serve as a novel target for melanoma management.
Department of Veterans Affairs
“Wnt signaling in melanoma invasion and metastasis”
The major goal of this project is to test a hypothesis that Wnts, especially Wnt7b and Wnt8b, play a critical role in regulating melanoma invasion and metastasis and could serve as novel targets for melanoma management.
Arkayli Biopharma
“Arkayli Infantile Hemangioma”
Major goals: Validation of endpoint measure for infantile hemangioma clinical trial protocol development using a 3-dimensiomal imaging system.
UWSDRC Pilot Program
“Clinical and genetic characterization of recurrent reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption”
Major goals: Whole genome sequencing and variant analysis in a cohort of children with Reactive Infectious Mucocutaneous Eruption (RIME).
Wisconsin Partnership Program
“Diagnosis and management of infantile hemangiomas using a convolutional neural network”
Major goals: Utilize artificial intelligence, specifically convolutional neural networks, to design an algorithm to diagnose hemangiomas and then predict its associated risk of complication.
Novartis
“CTA for BYL719 (clinical trial)”
Major Goals: EPIK-P2: A Phase II double-blind study with an upfront, 16-week randomized, placebo-controlled period, to assess the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of alpelisib (BYL719) in pediatric and adult patients with PIK3CA-relatedovergrowth spectrum (PROS).
Department of Veterans Affairs
“Role of EPAC signaling in melanoma progression”
The goal of this project is to investigate the role of EPAC in metabolic adaptation in melanoma, and to explore the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action of EPAC in melanoma.
Department of Veterans Affairs
“Immuno-electrochemical detection and characterization of melanoma circulating cells”
The goal of this project is to establish methods for sensitive detection of circulating melanoma cells in Veterans diagnosed with early-stage melanoma.
Department of Defense
“A microfluidic method to define the role of skin microenvironment in melanomagenesis”
The goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms by which UV-induced skin changes contribute to melanoma development.
Dermatology Foundation
“Elucidating the clinical and molecular immunometabolic microenvironment of granuloma annulare”
The goal of this project is to elucidate the clinical and molecular immunometabolic microenvironment of granuloma annulare.
UWF – SMPH Research & Development
“Elucidating the metabolic underpinnings of psoriatic skin disease”
The goal of this project is to elucidate the metabolic underpinnings of psoriatic skin disease via expression profiles of key metabolic pathway proteins
UWSDRC Pilot Program
“Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling in granuloma annulare”
The goal of this project is to characterize the metabolic landscape of granuloma annulare with the ultimate goal of developing mechanism-based therapeutic interventions.
UWSDRC Pilot Program
“Tailored Immunosuppressive Regimen to Decrease Skin Cancer Burden in High Risk Solid Organ Transplant Recipients”
This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of wound complications following cutaneous surgery in patients on sirolimus to better understand the risk-benefit profile of altering immunosuppressive regimens to decrease skin cancer burden and poor outcomes.
To Heal
To Educate
To Discover