Research

The Department of Dermatology at Yale, one of the oldest in the country, is deeply rooted in research. The clinical research efforts of Yale dermatologists contributed significantly to the treatment of lethal skin tumors such as melanomas and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. At present, we are actively exploring the uses of new technology such as photopheresis, a therapy for life-threatening and debilitating diseases like cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft versus host disease. A large portion of the department's research is performed through two separate research entities: The Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer Center and the Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository.

Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer
The overall goals of the Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer (YSPORE-SC) are to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanomas. The overriding themes are to reveal biomarkers and targets for therapy based on information from analyses of Next-Generation DNA sequencing (NGS), genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. The YSPORE-SC is currently supported by Administrative Supplement to bridge the one-year gap for our new competitive renewal application.

Research Opportunities
Research Facilities

Our department works closely with other basic immunologists and molecular biologists at Yale exploring topics including:

The role of dendritic epidermal T-cells in cutaneous immunity and immunopathology
Identification and characterization of tumor (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) specific class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) associated peptide antigens
The basis of normal and abnormal Tcell homing to the skin

In pigment cell projects, focusing on:

Growth regulation of normal and malignant melanocytes
Genetic defects in albinism and piebaldism

In the field of keratinocyte biology, we offer training in:

Modulation and measurement of keratinocyte growth in vivo and in vitro
Analytic techniques used to study the biochemistry of epidermal differentiation