Department of Dermatology

Research

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About Our Research Programs

The Department of Dermatology conducts research from bench to bedside, spanning clinical studies and basic science. Our investigators study inflammatory and blistering skin diseases, skin cancers, genetic skin disorders, hidradenitis suppurativa, pigmentary disorders, and diabetic wound healing, and we train the next generation of physician-scientists.

Dermatology Research

Clinical Research

Our clinical research runs from observational studies to clinical trials, often in collaboration with other USC departments. Our faculty study how dermatologic disease behaves and how care can be improved for adults and children.

Our clinical research covers:

  • Inflammatory skin conditions
  • Blistering skin diseases
  • Skin cancers
  • Genetic skin disorders
  • Vascular skin diseases
  • Pigmentary disorders
  • Allergic and immunologic skin conditions
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa.

For more information about our actively recruiting clinical trials, please contact us at [email protected]. We also host a virtual Los Angeles Hope for HS support group chapter, which meets every two months. Please register here if interested in joining us.

Doctor training students

Basic Science Research

Our basic science teams pursue new treatments for melanoma, recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), and diabetic foot ulcers.

DNA Sequencing: Drs. Brittney DeClerck and Gene Kim, with USC bioinformatics, use DNA sequencing to find melanoma at its earliest stages.

Gene Therapy: the laboratories of Drs. Mei Chen and David Woodley developed recombinant type VII collagen (rC7) therapies that help wounds heal in RDEB.

Molecular and Cell Biology: Dr. Wei Li studies new targets for diabetic foot ulcers; the lab’s molecule, secreted Hsp90alpha, is patented by USC and licensed for drug development.

Doctor in research lab