Epigenetics and Skin Disease

Laboratory of Dr. Rhoda Alani & Dr. Marianne Collard

The Alani Laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular basis of melanoma development and progression. The aim of our lab is to translate basic research findings to better prevention, detection and treatment of melanoma and to directly enhance the lives of patients currently diagnosed with melanoma.

Laboratory of Dr. Andrey Sharov

Dr. Sharov is a recipient of the Mentored Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases/NIH. Dr. Sharov is studying molecular mechanisms of skin development, with particular emphasis on the regulation and maintenance of adult stem cells in the skin. His research focuses on dissecting the signal transduction pathways which regulate stem cell quiescence to better understand how alterations in these signaling pathways contribute to melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. In addition, Dr. Sharov studies a role of higher-order chromatin organization in the process of pigmentation funded by NIH/NIAMS.

Laboratory of Dr. Vladimir Botchkarev

Vladimir Botchkarev, MD, PhD is Research Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology. He received his medical training at Chuvash State University in Cheboksary, Russian and his doctoral training at People’s Friendship University in Moscow, Russia. He was a recipient of the Research Career Development Award from the Dermatology Foundation and Independent Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health. He is also a recipient of the research grants from the NIAMS and NCI. His name was included in the books 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century, Great Minds of the 21st Century and Who is Who in Medicine. His primary research interests are the molecular mechanisms of hair growth and pathobiology of different forms of hair loss.

Laboratory of Dr. Samuel Beck

Samuel Beck, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Center for Aging Research. After obtaining his PhD from Seoul National University in 2011, Dr. Beck enhanced his expertise in gene regulation and systems biology through postdoctoral training at the University of Texas at Austin. His research is supported by the National Institute on Aging, the Hevolution Foundation/American Foundation of Aging Research, and the Shamim and Ashraf Dahod Breast Cancer Research Center. Dr. Beck’s research primarily explores the mechanisms of gene regulation at the transcriptional level, investigating how its dysregulation can lead to diseases and contribute to the aging process.