Overview
Our laboratory is investigating the pathogenesis of autoimmune blistering skin diseases. Areas of special expertise include immune mediated skin diseases, especially immune mediated primary blistering disorders. These include pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.
Specifically our laboratory is investigating the role of the mucosal immune response in the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and the role the associated gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) plays in the development of this disease. Studies are currently focused on understanding the systemic manifestations of the mucosal immune response to dietary ingestion of wheat proteins in patients with DH. Studies are directed at determining the pattern of cytokine activation and inflammatory cell activation in the gut, skin and circulation. These studies are focused on understanding the manner in which gastrointestinal inflammation leads to the development of skin lesions in patients with DH and will provide new insight into the pathogenesis of the numerous skin diseases associated with inflammatory gastrointestinal disease.
In addition, our laboratory is investigating the pathogenesis of the organ specific auto immune blistering diseases bullous pemphigoid, and pemphigus vulgaris. These studies are directed at understanding auto-antibody epitopes and their relationship to disease activity and the role of B cells in the development and maintaince of auto-antibodies. Clinical trials are ongoing in both pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid that are coupled with mechanistic studies.
Specifically our laboratory is investigating the role of the mucosal immune response in the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and the role the associated gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) plays in the development of this disease. Studies are currently focused on understanding the systemic manifestations of the mucosal immune response to dietary ingestion of wheat proteins in patients with DH. Studies are directed at determining the pattern of cytokine activation and inflammatory cell activation in the gut, skin and circulation. These studies are focused on understanding the manner in which gastrointestinal inflammation leads to the development of skin lesions in patients with DH and will provide new insight into the pathogenesis of the numerous skin diseases associated with inflammatory gastrointestinal disease.
In addition, our laboratory is investigating the pathogenesis of the organ specific auto immune blistering diseases bullous pemphigoid, and pemphigus vulgaris. These studies are directed at understanding auto-antibody epitopes and their relationship to disease activity and the role of B cells in the development and maintaince of auto-antibodies. Clinical trials are ongoing in both pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid that are coupled with mechanistic studies.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
J. Lamar Callaway Distinguished Professor of Dermatology, in the School of Medicine
·
2010 - Present
Dermatology,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Dermatology
·
1996 - Present
Dermatology,
Clinical Science Departments
Professor of Immunology
·
1997 - Present
Integrative Immunobiology,
Basic Science Departments
Recent Publications
Cutaneous dysbiosis characterizes the post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation period.
Journal Article Blood Adv · May 13, 2025 Gut dysbiosis is linked to mortality and the development of graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but the impact of cutaneous dysbiosis remains unexplored. We performed a pilot observational study, obtained retroau ... Full text Link to item CiteDisentangling Race from Skin Color in Modern Biology and Medicine.
Journal Article J Invest Dermatol · February 2025 In this review, we examine the taxonomies used to classify people, which influenced the development of the modern disciplines of biology and medicine, including dermatology, throughout the world. Early European scientists and physicians were intertwined wi ... Full text Link to item CiteObservations from Statistical Review Editors: A Commentary.
Journal Article JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health · November 2024 Full text CiteRecent Grants
A randomized, part A partial blinded and part B double blinded, placebo-controlled 24-week clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nomacopan therapy in adult patients with bullous pemphigoid receiving adjunct oral corticosteroid therapy
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Akari Therapeutics · 2022 - 2023A Phase I, Open-Label, Multicenter Trial Exploring the Safety and Tolerability of Autologous Polyclonal Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Adults with Active Pemphigus
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Emory University · 2019 - 2021An Open-Label, Proof of Concept Study Designed to Evaluate the Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacodynamic Effect of Bertilimumab in Patients with Newly Diagnosed, Moderate to Extensive Bullous Pemphigoid
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Immune Pharmaceuticals · 2016 - 2020View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Missouri, Columbia ·
1975
M.D.
Westminster College ·
1971
B.A.