SCIENCE
Vitamin D and Synthetic Melanin in Wound Healing
Twenty-two years ago, Kurt Lu, MD, was a postdoctoral fellow in molecular and cellular dermatology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He was studying macrophages with Kevin Cooper, MD and wanted to know more about the role these cells play in the resolution of inflammation in the skin. “Macrophages are in every organ system, where they respond to injury and infection,” Lu said. “They’re also important in the resolution of inflammation but, at the time, not much was known about how that worked.” Emerging data from the immunology field…
from the foundation
Advance Your Research 2026 DF Award Application Season Coming Soon
The Dermatology Foundation’s Research Award Program has been a driving force in advancing patient care for over six decades. By supporting…
DF Research Award Program Receives $1M Grant from Johnson & Johnson
A million-dollar grant from Johnson & Johnson to the Dermatology Foundation (DF) Research Award Program will support three exceptional early-career researchers dedicated to pursuing innovative knowledge on inflammatory skin disorders. This new DF research award funds groundbreaking investigations into these…
DF Research Award Program Receives $600,000 Grant from Sanofi and Regeneron
A $600,000 grant from Sanofi and Regeneron to the Dermatology Foundation Research Award Program will support two exceptional mid-career investigators conducting research into type 2 inflammation in skin. This generous donation marks the first time the Foundation has had the opportunity to fund research in…
DF Honorary Awards
2025 DF
Honorary Awards
What unites this year’s Honorary Award recipients is a shared commitment to advancing dermatology—through education and research, clinical excellence, and the compassionate care of patients. Each has made a singular impact on the field, and the Dermatology Foundation proudly recognizes their outstanding contributions through its Honorary Awards Program.
There are four distinct award categories: Lifetime Career Educator, Practitioner of the Year, the Clark W. Finnerud Award, and the Distinguished Service Award, which has been bestowed only seven times.
The Itch and Rash Whisperer
Jenny Murase, MD, is driven in her career to be the best clinician, teacher, and mentor she can be. She has worked tirelessly to become an expert clinician treating complex itch and rash…
A Master Educator, Mentor
and Scientist
Dr. Vincent DeLeo, the 2025 recipient of the DF Lifetime Career Educator Honorary Award, has devoted his life to education, mentorship, and innovation….
PROFILES IN ACHIEVEMENT
Kaess Trust Endows the Dermatology Foundation with
$1.5 Million Gift
Dr. Karl Kaess and his wife, Carolyn, shared a profound belief in the power of endowments to foster the next generation of medical professionals and strengthen academic institutions. Their $1.5 million gift from the Kaess Trust is a meaningful acknowledgment of the Dermatology Foundation’s role in advancing the specialty and supporting investigative research. “We are honored by Karl and Carolyn Kaess’s generosity and are deeply committed to being good stewards of their gift,” said Foundation President Janet Fairley. “In keeping with their values and directives, annual proceeds of the endowment will be used to support research that has the greatest potential to…
The Dean of Black Dermatology
Against the backdrop of severe and persistent racism, including his family’s move to New Jersey in 1922 to escape threats from the Ku Klux Klan, Dr. John A. Kenney Jr. embarked on a journey that ultimately led his residents, mentees, and peers to honor him with the title, the Dean of Black Dermatology (Tuller 2003). Dr. Kenney, who was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1914, expanded care for Black patients and opened doors…
Dr. Donald A. Glass II Receives the 2024 DF Sanofi and Regeneron Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mid-Career Award
Donald A. Glass II, MD, PhD, has received the first 2024 DF Sanofi and Regeneron Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mid-Career Award (SRDEI) from the Dermatology Foundation (DF). The award funds…
2025 CS Plenary Sessions
It’s rare to find yourself among top experts in your field who are just as eager to connect with you as you are with them, unless you’re at DF’s annual Clinical Symposium. Every year, this CME event brings together renowned speakers and leaders in dermatology.
In this issue, you’ll find summaries of presentations delivered by Drs. Desai, Gelfand, Glass, and Klufas. Their insights highlight key advances and real-world challenges shaping today’s dermatologic care.
Acral and Nail Unit Melanoma: Challenges and Approaches to Diagnosis and Management
Dr. Daniel Klufas presented information about the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of acral melanoma, including acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) and nail unit melanoma (NUM). Acral melanomas are rare subtypes of cutaneous melanoma (CM) found on non-hair-bearing acral surfaces. They typically present after the age of 50 and disproportionately affect patients with skin of color…
Advancements in Keloid Treatment
Dr. Donald Glass shared information about advances in keloid treatment. Keloids are raised scars that grow invasively beyond the boundaries of the original wounds. Keloids are distinct from hypertrophic scars, which remain confined to the boundaries of the original wounds and may regress spontaneously. First, Glass provided an overview of keloid epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation,…
