Dermatology Research Faculty
| Researcher | Description |
| Ganna Bilousova | My laboratory has a long-standing interest in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation capacity into a variety of cell types. I am particularly interested in developing experimental stem cell-based therapies for skin blistering diseases, such as Epidermolysis Bullosa, and connective tissue diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. My group also studies mechanisms of aging and the pathways that trigger rejuvenation during reprogramming into iPSCs. |
| Stanca Birlea | The purpose of my research is to characterize the stem cell populations of the skin in pigmentary disorders and hair follicle disorders. My lab is focused on finding strategies to directly isolate the melanocyte stem cells in important functional sites of hair follicle, and how they interact with keratinocytes. We try to understand, using a human vitiligo model receiving standard and new treatments, the cellular and molecular basis of repigmentation process, an example of regenerative medicine. This model facilitates identification of signals and pathways driving the lack of treatment response in vitiligo and enables discovery of drug targets that overcome the treatment resistance. |
| Xiying Fan | My laboratory focuses on utilizing large-scale sequencing tools to better understand the mechanisms of cancer immunoediting. My primary focus of interest lies in studying the functions and interactions of innate immune cells and hair follicles in cancer immunoediting during skin cancer progression. The overarching goal of my research is to advance the development of immunotherapies aimed at treating cancer patients. |
| Mayumi Fujita | Dr. Fujita is a tenured professor of Dermatology and Immunology & Microbiology, and a dermatologist at the Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine and VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, as well as a Director of Research Services, Dermatology RC-1S. The Fujita Lab studies biological roles and molecular regulations of 1) IL-1b, inflammasomes and autoinflammation in human melanoma, 2) IL-37 in adaptive immunity, 3) tumor heterogeneity in melanoma and its therapeutic resistance, and 4) damages to melanocytes and keratinocytes. The Lab is currently (as of January 2022) funded by NIH/NCI R01 (as a PI), NIH/NIAID R01 (as a PI), NIH/NIAAA R21 (as a PI), VA Merit Awards (one as a PI and the other two as a co-I), University of Colorado Cancer Center grant (as a PI), and the Cancer League of Colorado grants (as a PI). Dr. Fujita produced 112 peer-reviewed publications, including 17 first-author papers and 38 senior-author papers. |
The research of the Huang group focuses on mechanistic understanding and therapeutic targeting of hyperactive proinflammatory responses in several disease conditions including traumatic brain injury (TBI), inflammatory skin disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Hong Li’s contribution is essential to our recent discovery of the role of the transcriptional coregulators CtBP1 and CtBP2 in the modulation of innate immune responses and our ongoing efforts on the development of a novel class of anti-inflammatory agents. | |
| Igor Kogut | My laboratory is investigating the mechanisms leading to cellular reprogramming and aging, as well as induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-associated cellular rejuvenation. My group’s expertise in producing mRNA and manipulating RNA transfections was crucial for identifying and optimization of a cocktail of factors that can “rejuvenate” human somatic cells, which we can now deliver into cells via non-integrating clinically-relevant RNA molecules. My group is currently exploring the applicability of this somatic cell rejuvenation approach in improving outcomes of skin transplantation.
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| David Norris | Dr. Norris is an internationally renowned investigator in cutaneous immunology and cell biology, and melanoma research. He has been continuously funded for 40 years by the NIH, studying mechanisms of cell death in photosensitive lupus, vitiligo, and alopecia areata and has made seminal discoveries regarding the role of ultraviolet light in inducing translocation of autoantigens to the plasma membrane in keratinocytes in photosensitive lupus. His interest in immune mechanisms in vitiligo lead to many years of research in pigment cell biology, which eventually developed into studies of the resistance of melanocytes and melanoma to apoptosis. Over 17 years, Dr. Norris was funded by a VA Merit Award to study drug combinations that kill melanoma by overcoming anti-apoptotic defenses, especially in melanoma initiating cells. |
| Dennis Roop | My research focuses on understanding the role of cancer stem cells in the maintenance and resistance of skin cancer. We are developing stem cell therapies for inherited skin blistering diseases. We are also developing stem cell therapies for
wound repair. |
| Yiqun Shellman | The research focus in Dr. Shellman’s lab is on the study of melanoma and melanocytes, with the aim of bench-to-bedside. With a deep understanding of molecular and biochemical pathways, we aim to develop treatments to thwart melanomas’ anti-apoptotic defenses. We also study the cell death pathways, proliferation, differentiation, maintenance and development of melanocyte lineage, as well as the etiology of pigmentation disorders.
We use complementary in vitro and in vivo models, including human patient-derived iPSCs, transgenic mice, and mouse xenograft studies with patient relapsed melanomas. With these models, we aim to decipher the mechanisms of melanocyte lineage regulation in health and disease, and have identified potential treatments for difficult-to-treat melanomas. |
| Tamara Terzian | My laboratory is interested in the regulation of a key tumor suppressor, the transcription factor p53. p53 is mutated in over 50% of human cancers and has therefore been the subject of intensive basic and preclinical investigation. In the
hope of improving cancer therapies that specifically target p53 mutations, we are investigating the role of different p53 mutations in driving tumorigenesis. For this we are using novel combinations of extant mouse models of cancer, murine
xenografts, and sophisticated tissue culture systems. |
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