Page 25 - 2019 UM Dermatology Annual Letter - Pages 121819

Annual Letter 2019 | 25

OUR FACULTY AND CLINICAL TEAM

While it is impossible to inform you of all the outstanding work of our faculty and clinicians,
I would like to share some highlights:

DR. DRAGANA AJDIC

An Associate Professor, who studies microbiome of chronic wounds, wound biofilms
and antimicrobial agents that combat wound infections

Directs Microbiology and Immunology course and is a member of admission
committee for Skin Biology Master Program.

Reviewer for Oral Dental and Craniofacial Sciences Study Section

DR. TASUKU AKIYAMA

NIH funded researcher who published a high impact study optogenetic modulation of
itch in amygdala in Journal of Neuroscience

Scientific Reviewer for study sections of Somatosensory and Pain Systems, and Allergy,
Immunology and Transplantation Research

Serves on Human Genetics & Genomics Steering Committee

Section Editor for Acta Dermato-Venereolgica
DR. EVANGELOS BADIAVAS

Mentor of 3 of the first 5 MD/PhD Residents. Residents Dr. Naiem Issa and Dr. Jeffrey
McBride are currently working in Dr. Badiavas’ lab.

Funded by Department of Defense to study the role of extracellular vesicles in healing
and skin disease

Created a start–up Aegles Therapeutics that is bringing an exosome derived therapy
for Epidermolyisis Bullosa to clinical trials

DR. BARBARA BEDOGNI

NIH funded melanoma researcher who studies mechanisms associated with melanoma
progression, metastases and resistance to targeted therapy.
Identifying novel therapeutic targets to counteract resistance to current clinical
treatments

Member of the Frankel Family Division of Melanocytic Tumors and Yass Family
Melanoma Research laboratory