PeDRA Pearls

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson and PeDRA’s Executive Director, Mike Siegel, PhD, preview the upcoming PeDRA Annual Conference, happening October 15–17 in Alexandria, Virginia. Centered on the theme “From Intention to Impact: Making Space for Research,” the conversation highlights what attendees can expect—from collaborative sessions and CME opportunities to patient and industry engagement, poster presentations, the NextGen Research Forum, Camp Wonder at PeDRA, Dash for Discovery, and plenty of community-building fun. Tune in to see how PeDRA brings people together to move pediatric dermatology research forward.Register Now!Conference DetailsBachmann Bupp EpisodeThis episo...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson speaks with Sarah Kamsiah Zemlok, MD, and Jeff Yu, MD about their PeDRA-funded research on how children and families understand patch testing results. Their conversation explores the challenges of translating results into everyday allergen avoidance, especially across home, school, daycare, and other environments. They also discuss the importance of ongoing patient education, stronger support tools, and meaningful mentorship in pediatric dermatology research. This episode highlights how patient-centered research can help families move from results to real-life care. This project was funded through a 2024 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant, Assessment of Parent-Child Comprehension...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson speaks with Courtney Smith, MD and Howa Yueng, MD, MSc, about their research on acne risk and dermatologic care among transgender and gender-diverse adolescents receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. They discuss how patient-centered questions shaped the study, what their findings reveal about acne risk following testosterone or estradiol initiation, and why access, mentorship, and health equity are essential to improving dermatologic care.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson talks with Tina Ho, MD, PhD, and Joy Wan, MD, about the Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis Focused Study Group and its collaborative efforts to advance pediatric dermatology research. They explore the impact of eczema on children and families, the importance of patient-reported outcomes and treatment access, and how bringing researchers together through PeDRA can turn ideas into meaningful research.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson welcomes Delaney Ding, PeDRA’s Research Fellow, to discuss his journey as an MD-PhD student and his work at the intersection of pediatric dermatology, epidemiology, data science, and patient advocacy. Delaney shares insights from his research on skin cancer among people living with HIV, as well as his commitment to patient-centered research, vulnerable populations, and meaningful outcomes. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and collaboration, as well as the unexpected opportunities that can shape a research career. As PeDRA’s inaugural Research Fellow, Delaney shares his vision for advancing research to i...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson welcomes back Stefanos Koutsoukos for a deeper conversation about research on rare genetic skin diseases through the lens of both lived experience and bench science. Stefanos shares his family’s diagnostic journey, the evolving terminology surrounding ichthyosis and epidermal differentiation disorders, and how advances in genetics, stem cell models, and patient-reported outcomes are helping shape the future of meaningful therapies. Now a graduate student at the University of Colorado Anschutz, Stefanos is researching rare genetic skin diseases and is a recipient of a 2025 PeDRA Research Fellowship, working under the mentorship of Ga...

Join Jenn Dawson and Mitchell Hanson for some quick-hitting "research hot takes!"Topical Therapies Supporting Links and Articleshttps://nextstepsinderm.com/derm-topics/expanding-the-treatment-landscape-for-atopic-dermatitis-hidradenitis-suppurativa-and-chronic-hand-eczema/https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/advancing-topical-stewardship-and-expanding-nonsteroidal-optionshttps://www.arcutis.com/arcutis-announces-publication-of-positive-long-term-safety-and-efficacy-data-with-zoryve-roflumilast-cream-0-05-for-treatment-of-mild-to-moderate-atopic-dermatitis-in-children-ages-2-5/Social Unrest Leads to Access Barriers Supporting Links and ArticlesC. L. Presley, J. Meisenheimer VII, C. W. Rundle, S. Maguiness, I. A. Maher, and A. J. M. Anderson, “Social Unrest and Its Implications on the Pediatric Dermatological Patient: Lessons From a Single Center Academic Dermatology Department,” Pediatric Dermatology (2026): 1–2, https://doi.org/10.1111/pde.70260.Mukerjee K, Shah S, Falusi...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson talks with Colleen Cotton, MD, and Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD, leaders of PeDRA’s Acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Focus Study Group, about the evolving research landscape for pediatric acne and HS. Together, they discuss the importance of early recognition and referral, patient-centered research, pediatric-specific outcomes, and emerging areas of study, including post-isotretinoin care, stigma, laser hair removal, GLP-1 receptor agonists, hormonal therapies, and gender-affirming care. The conversation highlights how collaboration across clinicians, researchers, patients, and families is helping better shape care for children and adolescents living with chronic inflammatory skin disease....

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Heather Gochnauer, MD, joins the podcast to talk about her path into pediatric dermatology, her work at Rady Children’s and UC San Diego, and the clinical and research questions that motivate her early career. This conversation explores continuity of care from childhood into adulthood, Heather’s growing focus on connective tissue disease, and the role of collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity in shaping meaningful research for patients and families.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were...

In this episode, Jason Hawkes, MD, returns to discuss the evolving role of translational dermatology in bringing scientific discoveries closer to patient care. He shares how advances in immunology and clinical trials are transforming treatment for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and other inflammatory skin diseases. The conversation also explores personalized treatment, whole-person health, access to care through clinical research, and the growing opportunities for pediatric dermatologists to participate in research outside traditional academic settings.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, we explore the discovery of Bachmann-Bupp syndrome and the remarkable collaboration that transformed a single patient observation into a growing body of research and a promising treatment pathway. Host Jenn Dawson speaks with Caleb Bupp, MD, Andre Bachmann, PhD, and Liz VanSickle, PhD, about the genetics, skin and hair findings, and translational science behind this ultra-rare disorder, as well as the critical role pediatric dermatologists can play in recognizing patients, advancing research, and building connections for families navigating rare disease.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson welcomes Mitchell Hanson, MD, MPH, PeDRA’s new Education Fellow, for a conversation about connection, service, and intentionality in pediatric dermatology. Mitchell shares how his path through neuroscience, public health, medical education, and community-centered initiatives led him to PeDRA, and reflects on the importance of keeping patients at the center of research and education. Listeners will hear about his passion for making pediatric dermatology more accessible, the lessons he learned through global health work and SunSafe Augusta, and how setbacks can become meaningful redirections toward purpose.

In the first installment of PeDRA’s 2026 educational series – Research in Action: Advancing Care for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), Dr. Peter Marinkovich of Stanford University provides a timely overview of emerging therapies and clinical research in EB, including gene therapies, cell-based approaches, inflammation-targeted treatments, and strategies to improve wound care and long-term outcomes. Dr. Marinkovich includes an excerpt from Aaron Owens, a dystrophic EB patient who participated in a clinical trial. Designed for clinicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, and others involved in EB care, this program highlights recent progress in the field and the collaborative work driving better treatment options for pati...

Tune in to hear Dr. Cathryn Sibbald and Dr. Ilka Netravali, leaders of PeDRA’s Hair Disorders Focused Study Group, explore how pediatric hair disorders research is evolving beyond alopecia areata. They discuss multicenter studies, emerging biomarkers and precision medicine approaches, cross-specialty collaboration, and the importance of incorporating patient and family perspectives to improve care. The conversation highlights how this growing body of research is helping move the field toward more personalized, evidence-based, and equitable treatment for children with hair disorders.

In this episode, host Jenn Dawson talks with Dr. Dawn Davis, Dr. Amy Paller, and Dr. Larry Eichenfield about the newly published pediatric atopic dermatitis guidelines and what they mean for clinicians, patients, and families. Together, they unpack the evidence behind prevention, comorbidities, and treatment recommendations, discuss how rapidly the therapeutic landscape is evolving, and highlight the biggest unanswered questions that remain in research. The conversation also explores the importance of patient advocacy, shared decision-making, and improving access to care as the field moves toward more personalized treatment.Guidelines of care for primary prevention of atopic dermatitis...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson is joined by PeDRA Executive Director Mike Siegel and Outcomes Committee Chair Dr. Marcia Hogeling to recap key themes from the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) meeting. They discuss emerging trends in dermatology research, including the growing role of genetics, molecular diagnostics, multi-omics, and biologic therapies, as well as highlights from PeDRA’s featured session on vascular anomalies, rare skin diseases, and RIME. The conversation also explores the importance of patient advocacy, collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists, and the exciting future of pediatric dermatology research.Announcements:Register fo...

Meredith Weiss joins the podcast to discuss a study that was presented in the inaugural Gorlin Syndrome Alliance Round Table session at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) meeting. Meredith is the Executive Director for the Gorlin Syndrome Alliance.Novel PTCH1 Variants in Gorlin Syndrome Identified through Genomic Analysis of 118 Patients. The authors of this study are:Ryan Kern*1, Amy Xiong1, Qianqian Wang2, Philip Beachy2, Jean Tang11Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States; 2Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States<...

Michael Howell, PhD, is an immunologist and the Founder and President of Mountaineer Biosciences.

Ganna Bilousova, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Colorado and mentor to Stefanos Koutsoukos, a PhD candidate at the University of Colorado. Dr. Bilousova and Stefanos received a 2025 PeDRA Research Fellowship Award for their project, Characterizing Deficits in Early-Stage Autophagy and Lipid Accumulation in iPSC-Derived Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes from Individuals with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. In this episode, they discuss findings from the study as presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting.

Dr. Megha Tollefson, Department Chair of Dermatology, Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology at the Mayo Clinic, and PeDRA President-Elect, shares her key takeaways from the PeDRA session at SID.