Academic Lead(s):
Professor Catherine Smith
St John’s Institute of Dermatology, according to a recent independent RAND assessment, is the leading institution for NHS dermatology research in the UK. Our research is internationally competitive and supported from multiple sources including NIHR and MRC programme grants. Our IAT posts are highly competitive and to date all have attracted externally funded PhD studentships. We have been awarded a Silver Athena SWAN award. We have had recent publications in high impact journals including Cell and Nature Genetics.
Our research programme is multidisciplinary and focussed on specific areas of importance to skin biology and disease. They are:
- Molecular and cellular basis of inherited skin diseases
- Experimental medicine programmes in genodermatoses (cell and gene based therapies) and malignant melanoma (antibody therapy)
- Immunologic and genetic investigation of common severe inflammatory skin disorders
- Biomarker discovery (genetic, immune, pharmacological) in inflammatory skin disease
- Molecular diagnostics of cutaneous lymphoma
- Population based studies and interventional trials in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
Academic trainees join the South East London rotation training programme which includes St John’s Institute of Dermatology (GSTT), the largest dermatology treatment centre in UK with national specialized services in inflammatory and genetic skin disease, Kings College Hospital and Lewisham. Comprehensive training in inflammatory, tumour and sub-specialty dermatology in all relevant clinical settings (outpatients, high need daycentre, inpatients) provides full exposure to all aspects of skin disease in adults and children. We currently have 15 SpRs starting at CT3. We work very closely with our clinic training lead to ensure smooth co-ordination between clinical and academic components of the scheme.