Department: Dermatology

High risk squamous cell carcinoma; frozen histopathology; reconstructive surgery.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dermatology

My research focus is on protein kinase regulation of primary cilia-mediated signaling, skin and hair follicle development, and epithelial tumor progression. My work has discovered novel roles of kinases in neural stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, primary cilia structure and signaling, hair follicle cycling, and basal cell carcinoma progression. How kinases achieve these diverse functions are an ongoing area of investigation.

I have trained in both Genito-Urinary Medicine (UK) and Dermatology. This has allowed me to develop a specialty clinic for the diagnosis and management of genital skin disorders. The rest of the time, I see individuals with general dermatology issues.

Defining the role of matrix metalloproteinases in connective tissue remodeling of the skin.Defining the macromolecular structures of the cutaneous basement membrane zone.Developing methods for delivery of extracutaneous gene therapy in epidermolysis bullosa.

Our research is focused on how the activities of hundreds or even thousands of genes (gene parties) are coordinated to achieve biological meaning. We have pioneered methods to predict, dissect, and control large-scale gene regulatory programs; these methods have provided insights into human development, cancer, and aging.

Our current studies focus on aging and skin cancers in human beings and are translational in nature: 1) genetics and epigenetics to promote healthy aging of the skin 2) genetics and epigenetics of skin cancers and drug resistance 3) novel therapies to promote healthy aging of the skin 4) novel therapies for non-melanoma skin cancers 5) induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative and therapeutic purposes

I am interested in all types of immune-mediated skin disease, with a focus on psoriasis and rheumatic skin disease. I co-direct a multi-disciplinary clinic dedicated to the care of patients with rheumatic skin diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, dermatyositis and scleroderma. I conduct multiple clinical trials and I participate in translational research with tissues obtained from a prospective cohort of patients with scleroderma, lupus, and dermatomyositis.

Our current research focuses in two principal areas: 1. The molecular basis for diseases in which the pathway of transcription-coupled DNA repair is defective, including Cockyne syndrome (CS) and UV-sensitive syndrome (UVSS). Patients are severely sensitive to sunlight but get no cancers. See Hanawalt & Spivak, 2008, for review. 2. Transcription arrest by guanine-rich DNA sequences and non-canonical secondary structures. Transcription collisions with replication forks.

We work in epithelial tissue as a model system to study stem cell biology, cancer and new molecular therapeutics. Epithelia cover external and internal body surfaces and undergo constant self-renewal while responding to diverse environmental stimuli. Epithelial homeostasis precisely balances stem cell-sustained proliferation and differentiation-associated cell death, a balance which is lost in many human diseases, including cancer, 90% of which arise in epithelial tissues.

Clinical research in cutaneous lymphomas, especially, mycosis fungoides; studies of prognostic factors, long-term survival results, and effects of therapies. Collaborative research with Departments of Pathology and Oncology in basic mechanisms of cutaneous lymphomas. Clinical trials of new investigative therapies for various dermatologic conditions or clinical trials of known therapies for new indications.

Developing gene therapy for genetic skin diseases is my major focus. Prior to that, we are developing methods to give effective and efficient care to infants with rare and disabling genetic skin diseases including epidermolysis bullosa and ichthyosis as well as infants and children with unusual and difficult to manage vascular malformations. I am also interested in clinical studies within the NICU protecting premature infants’ skin and clinical studies in children with common skin diseases.

The Marinkovich lab studies the function of epithelial extracellular matrix molecules, including integrins, collagens and laminins in epithelial development and carcinoma progression. We apply our discoveries in this area towards development of molecular therapies for carcinomas, hair disease and inherited epithelial adhesive disorders.

Biology of the keratinocyte in inherited blistering diseases. Studies include cytokine production and production of cytokine receptor antagonists (IL-1Ra).

Hedgehog signaling has been implicated in the induction or maintenance of up to 25% of human tumors and a variety of birth defects. Our lab studies Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in normal hair follicle development and in the pathogenesis of the most common human tumor, basal cell carcinoma (BCCs) of the skin. We are interested in how the local stromal environment regulates hedgehog signaling and hair follicle or tumor growth and invasion and developing novel targets for therapy.

Broad study of extramedullary myeloid tumors; Characterization of CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders and pathogenesis; Mutational analysis of CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders; Characterization of cutaneous mast cell disease and distinction from systemic mastocytosis; Comparison of systemic and cutaneous B cell lymphomas by immunohistochemical profiles and the use of tissue microarrays; microRNA studies of cutaneous lymphomas

1) Early detection of melanoma through enhanced screening and professional and public education to improve melanoma awareness. 2) Chemoprevention of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers in high-risk groups. 4) Epidemiologic and sociodemographic aspects of melanoma. 4) National dermatologist liaison to the ECOG Melanoma Committee and Co-founder/Co-Director of the Melanoma Prevention Working Group, an interdisciplinary Intergroup collaboration dedicated to melanoma control and prevention

My research focuses on finding new ways to treat and prevent non-melanoma skin cancer. I am committed to bringing laboratory-based insights to benefit our patients. I am interested in these questions: 1. How do we prevent skin cancer? 2. What is the relationship between sunlight, vitamin D, and skin cancer risk? 3. Can we target certain tumor signaling pathways (Hedgehog pathway) to treat basal cell carcinomas - the most common cancer in the US?

My research interest is focused on investigating the molecular networks that underlie cancer stem cells and designing therapies that selectively target these cells, thereby eliminating a cancer's potential for regrowth.