Research
Research team (left to right): Michael Kasprzak, B.S. (research assistant) Karli Rosner, M.D., Ph.D, (principal investigator) David O'Hagan, Ph.D., (research associate)
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The ‘Laboratory of Molecular Dermatology’ (LMD) was recently established by the Department of Dermatology at Wayne State University to address basic and translational sciences in skin cancer with emphasis on malignant melanoma and cutaneous lymphoma.
- Pursuing novel diagnostic and treatment methods for malignant melanoma and cutaneous lymphoma.
- Providing assistance with training and basic sciences to dermatology residents.
- Offering research opportunities to interested dermatology residents and medical students.
The director of dermatology research and head of LMD is Karli Rosner, M.D., Ph.D. The laboratory is located at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. The research space includes main laboratory and cell culture rooms, office and shared spaces with other laboratories within the facility. The laboratory is equipped with a variety of instruments that enable the execution of a wide spectrum of molecular biology techniques such as Real-time PCR, gene cloning and mutatagenesis. In collaboration with other research groups LMD personnel are carrying out advanced molecular biology techniques such as high-throughput cloning method using phage-display libraries and protein-microarrays.
The Current Main Projects:
The Laboratory of Molecular Dermatology is currently engaged in three novel, cutting-edge science projects.
‘Melanoma Gene Therapy by Targeted Gene Constructs’: This project aims at developing a melanoma-targeted treatment made of gene constructs having high killing efficiency. Each gene construct will include a core of an apoptotic gene and additional genetic elements to secure a specific targeting of the melanoma cells as well as an on/off external control. This approach will enable to tailor the treatment to the specific patient’s melanoma sensitivity by employing an array of different gene constructs.
‘Diagnostic Biomarkers of Melanoma by High-Throughput Antigen Cloning and Detection on Arrays’: This project aims at identifying new melanoma biomarkers and developing a blood test that will enable early diagnosis of melanoma with high sensitivity and specificity. This project employs a high-throughput approach by epitomic technology.
‘The Role of Mobile Genetic Elements in the Etiology of Melanoma’: This project aims at identifying Mobile Genetic Elements (MGE) that may trigger the malignant transformation of benign melanocytes. This approach is based on MGE being a common denominator of most cellular mechanisms that have been implicated in the etiology of melanoma. This project also employs the high-throughput approach by epitomic technology.