Training program:
Molecular Basis of Skin/Mucosa Pathobiology
Molecular Basis of Skin/Mucosa Pathobiology
TRAINING IN THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF SKIN/MUCOSA PATHOBIOLOGY
This program provides predoctoral and postdoctoral training for careers as academic
scientists and clinicians committed to innovative, high quality experimental
skin research with an impact on future treatment of skin diseases and more effective
patient care. The OHSU Department of Dermatology has a distinguished history of excellent clinical dermatologic patient care, innovative dermatologic and basic science research, teaching of residents, interns and students, and service to OHSU and to the community at large. Dr. Molly Kulesz-Martin, director of research and associate chair, along with department chair Dr. Neil Swanson have renewed the department’s research division with a major focus in cancer, a renovated research space near the clinic, the recruitment of faculty and the development of Dermatology Research Division programs. The focus on cancer genes in skin represents a new direction in research for the OHSU Department of Dermatology, toward a multidisciplinary focus on cancer genes of epithelia and their role in normal and neoplastic processes.
Why Skin/Mucosa?
The vast majority of human cancers arise in the epithelium. Our training program
is centered on interactive pathways in cancer and inflammation that are shared in
three epithelial linings: skin, head and neck, and intestine. At the cellular level,
all these organs express characteristic intermediate filaments (keratins) specific
to each site, and share basic rules of growth, differentiation, death signaling and
transcriptional programming that are compromised in cancer. Skin is the most accessible
organ of the body, offering opportunities to follow pathological development from the
earliest stages. Dermatology is by nature interdisciplinary, involving multiple cell
types (epithelial, stromal, endothelial and immune cells) and multiple treatment
approaches (medical, genetic, immunological and surgical). Our program, while based
in the Department of Dermatology, gathers mentors from the departments of Cell &
Developmental Biology, Molecular & Medical Genetics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology. Our mentors offer core isolation, separation
and molecular profiling of human mucosa/skin tissue; transgenic, knock-in and
knock-out mice; and non-invasive real-time imaging of developing cancers and stromal changes.
Features of the program
- A core of Dermatology faculty, including program director Dr. Molly Kulesz-Martin, with 24 years of experience in skin research and mentorship
- A multidisciplinary team of scientists with international recognition in areas highly relevant to skin cellular growth, differentiation and apoptosis
- A newly-renovated core research space
- Immersion in individual research projects within the area of mentor expertise
- Lectures in the graduate program at OHSU related to specific research areas, e.g., cancer biology, histology, molecular techniques and medical bioinformatics, including a clinical experience segment designed specifically for trainees and research forums for postdoctoral fellows
- Regular Dermatology, Cell & Developmental Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular & Medical Genetics department seminars and journal clubs
- Monthly Dermatology Research Division meetings, lab meetings and techniques seminars
- Travel to national or international meetings in cutaneous biology
This training program is supported by the National Institutes of Health under
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award T32-CA106195 from the National
Cancer Institute. OHSU is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.