The Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine has approximately 5,000 square feet of research space. The portion that is located at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center building is utilized exclusively for patient-oriented research and other clinical measurements and trials.

Other research space includes facilities such as an animal operatory for wound healing, facilities for general anesthesia, individual housing of large animals and an animal conditional facility for cutaneous microbiology research. Laboratory research facilities include cellular and molecular biology facilities, techniques such as DNA sequencing and cloning, PCR, southern, northern and western blottings, in situ hybridization, immuno-histochemical and immuno-fluorescent staining, a tissue culture facility for growing and studying keratinocytes, fibroblasts, dermal endothelial cells and skin organ culture.

Recently, innovative technologies have been added including a small angle light-scattering device, which allows ready analysis of tissue scarring and a device to measure tissue hydration. Additionally, a state-of-the-art video conferencing computer hardware system has been added, including camera, codec boards and video capture equipment for use in teledermatology research.

CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

The University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery has a highly developed clinical research program. Our faculty and trials coordinators have both experience and expertise in a wide range of areas. The department is particularly strong in studies concerning wound healing, tissue repair, infections of the skin (viral, fungal, and bacterial), infestations of the skin (scabies, pediculosis), skin malignancies, psoriasis, and cosmetic dermatology. Within the department an average of ten to twenty studies are in progress at any one time.

A trained experienced team of professionals administers these studies under the direction of each of the principal investigators. The team is comprised of a director, co-director, administrator, and five study coordinators and assist principal investigators in the following areas:

• Protocol development
• Preparation and completion of research contract
• Budgets
• Preparation and approval of consent
• Recruitment of subject
• Specimen collection and submission
• Data collection
• Completion of case report forms and source documentation
• Interaction with study monitors
• Finalization of the study

EPIDERMAL DIFFERENCTIATION AND HAIR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASES

MPZL3 protein (green) was detected in the keratinocytes of the hair follicles in mouse skin.  The cell nuclei were stained red.

Dr. Tongyu Cao, Ph.D. is interested in epidermal differentiation and hair development and diseases, especially inherited skin and hair disorders and skin cancer.  Her laboratory uses cell biology, genetics, developmental biology and molecular biology approaches to analyze mutant mouse models of human skin disorders as well as patient samples in our research.  One of our current projects focuses on a mutant mouse strain called rough coat (rc).  The rc mice develop cyclic and progressive hair loss, sebocyte hyperplasia, as well as spontaneous ulceration of the skin at a high incidence.  These defects could be the result of abnormalities in the keratinocyte stem cells of the hair follicles.  To understand the genetic basis of the rc phenotype development, we recently carried out positional cloning and identified a point mutation in a novel gene, Mpzl3, in the rc mice.  Mpzl3 encodes a protein (MPZL3) predicted to be a transmembrane protein that is likely involved in cell adhesion.  We are currently analyzing the effects of the rc mutation on hair follicle and sebaceous gland development.  In addition, we are interested in the role of MPZL3 in skin cancer.

Research Opportunities

I am looking for enthusiastic and committed undergraduate students to collaborate on various projects.  If you are looking to gain lab experience in biomedical research and are interested in the skin, please email your resume (including a list of science courses taken and a contact phone number) to me.  Whereas previous lab experience is not required, self-motivation and commitment are required.  Because of the nature of the projects and the techniques we use, most likely you will need to spend at least two half days (about 8 hours) per week in the lab if you want a real taste of bench research.  Research during the summer months is also possible.

 

WOUND HEALING & INFECTION RESEARCH LABORATORIES

The University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery is renowned for their work in the field of wound healing and infection. Professor Mertz along with Professor Stephen Davis and Alex Cazzaniga, Research Associate, work together in a variety of areas including, product development for pharmaceutical companies, biofilm research, electric stimulation, photon therapy. The facilities and research interests include:

CUTANEOUS MICROBIOLOGY FACILITY

• Bacterial quantitation with specialized tools
• Spiral Plater System
• Colsworth stomacher
• Specialized media
• Antimicrobial/Antibacterial assay systems
• Biofilm modeling
• Mycological studies
• Impetigo studies (human)

WOUND HEALING FACILITY

• Surgery suite-large animals
  • Facilities for general anesthesia
  • Individual Housing
• Epithelization Assay
• Planimetry analysis for measuring wound contraction
• Histological measurements of wound healing
  • Scanning and electron microscopic evaluations
  • Immunohistochemistry
• Small angle light-scattering device
  • Innovative technology to measure tissue scarring
• Irritancy studies on human volunteers
• Digital photography

CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY FACILITY

• DNA Sequencing & Cloning
• PCR
• Blotting: Southern, Northern & Western
• In site hybridization
• Immuno-histochemical & immunofluorescent staining

TISSUE CULTURE FACILITY

• Keratinocytes
• Fibroblasts
• Dermal endothelial cells
• Skin Organ culture

LIPID LABORATORY

• Liposomal preparation
• Nitrogen hood for oxygen-free operations
• Electronic measurement of skin hydration
  

CURRENT RESEARCH STUDIES

UM Skin Research Group
Principal Investigator: Dr. Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D.

Currently we have studies for subjects with the diagnosis of:

• Atopic Dermatitis (Atopic Eczema)
• Keloids (enlarged and raised scars)

If you are interested in getting information about the studies, please contact us at 305-243-5519 or e-mail us, dermatology.research@med.miami.edu.

 

SKIN DISEASES AND CUTANEOUS BIOLOGY RESEARCH LABORATORY

Figure: Immunofluorescent staining in human skin. Laminin alpha 5 expressed positive in both dermal-epidermal junction and dermal blood vessels.

Research Team
Jie Li, M.D., Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Yan Ping Zhang, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Associate

Our laboratory uses advanced cellular, molecular biology techniques and animal models to study the mechanisms of various skin related problems. Our current on-going researches involve following studies:

1. The role of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, laminin 8 and laminin 10, in the integrin signaling in skin epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and blood vessel endothelial cells.
2. The functions of ECM and growth factors in regulating cell attachment, migration, terminal differentiation, skin homeostasis and wound repair.
3. The role of ECM and growth factors in regulating ECM deposition, dermal fibrosis and wound healing.
4. Skin tissue engineering and wound repair.
5. Dermal endothelial cell biology, angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis as well as human skin disorders involving angiogenesis, i.e. psoriasis, dermatitis (atopic, contact), hemangioma and Kaposi's sarcoma.
6. The correlation of laminin 10 expression with the progress of malignant skin tumors of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
7. Gene regulation in hair follicle development and alopecia.
   

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