Dermatologist awards recognize research for inflammatory skin conditions

A first prize of a $10,000 grant went to Dr. Anna De Benedetto, of the department of dermatology, at the University of Rochester Medical center for research entitled The Role of Atopic Dermatitis Cytokines Milieu in Tight Junction Barrier Impairment.  

“It’s a great honor to receive this award. My research focuses on investigating the expression and function of skin tight junctions in atopic dermatitis in order to pave the way to new therapeutics aimed at repairing the skin barrier,”​ said Dr. De Benedetto.

“This is a new and exciting area of investigation in dermatology, with relevance to a number of other inflammatory skin conditions.”​

Second prize for research on ascorbic acid on melanin synthesis​

The second and third prizes each received grant awards of $5,000 to give the research projects a further boost.

Patricia Oyetakin-White, MD of Case Western Reserve University and Department of Dermatology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center was awarded tje second prize for her study entitled Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Melanin Synthesis in Human Keratinocytes and Melanocytes Exposed to Simulated Solar Radiation.

“This award will further my development as I transition from a research fellowship program to dermatology residency training,”​ Oyetakin-White said.

Third prize backed research into photoaging and cancer risk​

The third prize was awarded to Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae-Harboe of Boston University, Department of Dermatology, for a survey study that looked into the self-perceptions of skin cancer risk and photoaging after facial skin quality analysis.

“Using an appearance-based intervention approach, I aim to impact self-perceptions of photo-aging, which may be an indicator of skin cancer risk, to ultimately cultivate better sun protection habits,”​ Bae-Harboe said.

The awards were given to the three researchers at the La Roche-Posay North American Foundation Awards dinner during the 2013 American Academy of Dermatology 71^st​ annual meeting held in Miami, Florida, last month.