About Us

Dedication to the Advancement of Dermatologic Care

Richard Edelson, MD, Lerner Professor and Chairman, Yale Dermatology
Director, Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Department of Dermatology at Yale, one of the oldest in the country, is deeply rooted in research and has grown to become the largest provider of specialized dermatologic care in the region.

The clinical research efforts of Yale dermatologists contributed significantly to the treatment of lethal skin tumors such as melanomas and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. At present, we are actively exploring the uses of new technology such as photopheresis, a therapy for life-threatening and debilitating diseases like cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft versus host disease.

Our services are often the only hope for patients with resistant dermatologic illness that can affect the whole skin surface and demoralize the patient and family. We are widely recognized for our strength in the clinical areas of cutaneous lymphoma, melanoma, inherited disorders of keratinization, and keratinocyte carcinomas.

Our Dermatologic Surgery Unit uses advanced surgical and laser techniques to treat skin cancer and other skin tumors. In addition, our community outreach program brings the benefits of early cancer diagnosis to those for whom it might not otherwise be accessible.

Opportunities in Research and Education

Our department works closely with other basic immunologists and molecular biologists at Yale exploring topics including:

• The role of dendritic epidermal T-cells in cutaneous immunity and immunopathology
• Identification and characterization of tumor (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) specific class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) associated peptide antigens
• The basis of normal and abnormal Tcell homing to the skin

In pigment cell projects, focusing on:

• Growth regulation of normal and malignant melanocytes
• Genetic defects in albinism and piebaldism

In the field of keratinocyte biology, we offer training in:

• Modulation and measurement of keratinocyte growth in vivo and in vitro
• Analytic techniques used to study the biochemistry of epidermal differentiation

We have attracted trainees with excellent qualifications and abilities for the currently funded four post-doctoral positions. Since the majority of our residents pursue academic careers, they help in our recruitment of additional research-oriented residents.

Our Research Facilities

There are 7,432 sq. feet of research space in the department. The laboratories are located on the fifth floor of LCI and the sixth floor of the Hunter Building. Facilities are available for:

• Tissue culture
• Transmission electron microscopy
• Flow cytometry
• Ultracentrifugation
• Immunocytology
• Animal studies
• HPLC
• Digital imaging
• Photobiology
• Molecular biology, including RNA and DNA isolation from tissue, PCR amplification and analysis of samples, transgene construction and plasmid preparation