NEW YORK, May 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Skin
Association has announced the awarding of two coveted research
grants under the ASA Milstein Research Scholar Awards
program. Andrew Ji, MD
of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai received the ASA Milstein
Research Scholar Award for Melanoma/Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
and Ester Del Duca, MD of the
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai received the ASA Milstein Research Scholar Award in
Atopic Dermatitis.
This year of grants includes the ASA Daneen & Charles
Stiefel Investigative Scientist Award in Melanoma Research
awarded to Elena Piskonouva, PhD of Weill Cornell Medicine.
The Stiefel Family, longtime supporters of ASA, generously
contributed $300,000 to support
grants for melanoma research. The purpose of this funding is to
identify and support emerging leaders in dermatology focused on
melanoma research. Specifically catering to mid-career
investigators poised to become leaders in key areas of melanoma
research.
In addition, 8 other research grants, made possible through the
generosity of individuals, foundations, and corporations, were also
announced.
For over thirty years, in advancement of its vital mission to
serve the more than 100 million Americans afflicted with skin
disorders, ASA and its affiliates have funded over $50 million in grants to enhance treatments and
continue working towards cures for melanoma, vitiligo, psoriasis,
atopic dermatitis, and other skin diseases.
"These crucial grants in support of cutting-edge dermatological
research will improve the chances of finding long sought-after
cures and bring hope to those suffering from these devastating
illnesses," said ASA Chairman, Howard P.
Milstein.
ASA's grant program is run by its Medical Advisory Committee
(MAC), comprised of leading scientists and physicians who volunteer
their time to administer the annual grant process. Through their
leadership, ASA's grant program has supported the work of over 300
investigators, ranging from talented researchers in the early
phases of their careers to recognized leaders in the field of
dermatology.
"ASA's Medical Advisory Committee is excited for the potential
discoveries these funded projects may bring. This year's group of
awardees provide hope for new breakthroughs", said ASA President
and Co-Chair of its MAC, Dr. David A.
Norris.
ASA provides significant research awards to established
investigators and medical students studying melanoma, non-melanoma
skin cancer and skin diseases. Through these grants, ASA has
promoted the early careers of many gifted young investigators and
has had a profound impact both on dermatology research and clinical
care of dermatologic disease. In particular, ASA-funded researchers
have had a broad impact on melanoma research, improving our
understanding of its diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. With an
exclusive focus on skin disease research, ASA has helped open new
frontiers in skin science, producing results that can change how we
understand and treat skin disease.
The following are the recipients of the 2021 Investigative
Scientist Award, Research Scholar Awards, Research Grants, and
Medical Student Grants:
ASA Daneen & Charles Stiefel Investigative Scientist Award
for Melanoma Research
Elena Piskounova, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Project Title: The Role and Regulation of Nucleotide Metabolism
in Metastatic Melanoma
ASA Milstein Research Scholar Award Melanoma/Non-Melanoma Skin
Cancer
Andrew Ji, MD
Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Project Title: Tumor Subpopulation-Driven Stromal Remodeling in
SCC
ASA Milstein Research Scholar Award Atopic Dermatitis
Ester Del Duca, MD
Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai
Project Title: Skin and Blood Characterization of the African
and African American AD Molecular Phenotype
ASA Calder Research Scholar Award Vitiligo/Pigment Cell
Disorders
Nuria Martinez Gutierrez,
PhD
University of Massachusetts Medical
School
Project Title: Targeting the Arginine Pathway in Cytotoxic CD8+
T Cells to Treat Vitiligo
ASA Novartis Research Scholar Award Psoriasis/Inflammatory Skin
Disease
Ivan Jozic,
PhD
University of Miami
Project Title: Elucidating the Role of Caveolin-1 in
Pathophysiology of Psoriasis
ASA Pfizer Research Scholar Award Atopic Dermatitis
Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD
Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine
Project Title: Uncovering Cerebral Biomarkers of Itch in Atopic
Dermatitis Towards Drug Discovery
ASA Mulvaney Family Foundation Research Grant Vitiligo/Pigment
Cell Disorders
Nicholas Theodosakis, MD,
PhD
Massachusetts General
Hospital
Project Title: Exploring Neurodegenerative Synucleinopathies as
a Model for Chronic Hyperpigmentation
ASA Castle Biosciences Research Grant
Melanoma
Joel Sunshine, MD,
PhD
Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine
Project Title: mRNA Nanoparticle Vaccination for Melanoma
Immunotherapy
ASA David Lyons Medical Student Grant Targeting Melanoma and
Skin Cancer
Ms. Vivian
Hua
Stanford University
School of Medicine
Project Title: Characterizing Novel Variants in Individuals with
Frequent Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC)
ASA Milstein Medical Student Grant for Research in Inflammatory
Skin Diseases at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Ms. Sabrina
Ghalili
Downstate School of Medicine
Project Title: COVID-19 and Inflammatory Skin
Diseases
ASA Medical Student Grant Targeting Melanoma and Skin Cancer
Mr. Michael
Chang
Harvard
University
Project Title: Tumoral and Clinical Risk Factors for
Cutaneous Adverse Events in Melanoma Patients on
Immunotherapy
ASA Medical Student Grant Targeting Melanoma and Skin Cancer
Ms. Amanda
Zhou
Yale University
Project Title: Discovery and Application of Natural Products for
the Prevention of Skin Cancer
ABOUT AMERICAN SKIN ASSOCIATION
A unique collaboration of patients, families, advocates,
physicians, and scientists, ASA has evolved over three decades as a
leading force in efforts to defeat melanoma, skin cancer, and other
skin diseases. Established to serve the now more than 100 million
Americans – one-third of the U.S. population – afflicted with skin
disorders, the organization's mission remains to: advance research,
champion skin health particularly among children, and drive public
awareness about skin disease. For more information, visit
americanskin.org.
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SOURCE American Skin Association