Welcome to the Academic Unit of Dermatology Research (AuDR)
About Us
The Academic Unit of Dermatology Research (AuDR) comprises clinical and non-clinical staff with an interest in inflammatory skin disorders including atopic eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, alopecia areata and vitiligo. Our research is conducted at the interface between the clinic, academia and industry. Our group has identified genetic variants associated with all of these diseases and is one of the leading groups, internationally, translating basic dermatological science into new treatments for the clinic. Examples include ‘Skin Protease Inhibitors’ and ‘Vitamin A Metabolic Pathway Inhibitors’. In 2001, with help from The Wellcome Trust, the group formed a ‘spin-out’ company called ‘Molecular SkinCare’, with the aim of developing these treatments.
A current major focus of our unit is the effect of topical pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and oils on the structure and function of the skin barrier. Research in this area comprises investigation of the skin barrier defects associated with skin disorders such as atopic eczema (dermatitis), how skin barrier defects develop and how to treat or repair the skin barrier defect. This includes the determination of the effect of topical agents/products on the skin of volunteers visiting our clinical diagnostic ‘skin laboratory’, where we can measure specific properties of the skin barrier, non-invasively, using an array of specialised equipment. These results are then correlated with variants in the genes that determine the structure and function of the skin barrier.
Major research areas include:
Atopic Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
- Gene-environment interactions in the development of atopic dermatitis
- Development of treatments for atopic dermatitis
- Interaction of topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic agents with the skin barrier
Genetics of skin diseases
- The Vitamin A metabolic pathway and hyper-proliferative disorders of the skin
- The autoimmune regulator gene in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata
Vitiligo
Research in the Unit is/has been funded, and/or supported by:
- Association Alopecia Areata
- Astellas Pharma Inc
- British Skin Foundation
- Cecil King Memorial Foundation
- Johnson & Johnson
- Kuwait Ministry of Health
- Molecular SkinCare
- National Eczema Society
- National Alopecia Areata Foundation
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Ltd
- Oxagen Ltd
- Psoriasis Association
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Special Trustees
- Stiefel Laboratories (a GSK company)
- Water Research Council (Defra)
- Wellcome Trust