The Harvard Skin Disease Research Center (HSDRC) was established in 1994 with funding from the National Institutes of Health. Our goal is to harness the talents of a group of outstanding investigators from throughout Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals and research institutes toward understanding the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms of skin disease.
It is increasingly appreciated that skin diseases are important not only by themselves but also as models for diseases affecting other epithelial interfaces with the environment (i.e., gut, lung, internal mucosa). Through the skin the body encounters and defends against multiple infectious and environmental challenges. Investigative dermatologists have long appreciated that skin is accessible for monitoring and sampling with minimal morbidity, so there is no better tissue model in which to investigate mechanisms of host defense, infection, cancer, and therapeutic modalities such as vaccines. A major goal of the HSDRC continues to be to bring these unique strengths and attributes of skin to the attention of the biomedical community outside of Departments of Dermatology.
Our Research Cores, Enrichment Programs, and Pilot and Feasibility Award Program provide the means to strengthen and increase the productivity of research programs of both established and new investigators in skin biology and disease mechanisms.
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| HSDRC 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Dermatology Boston, MA 02115 derm@rics.bwh.harvard.edu |
