Speciality of Dermatology
Dedicated to the study and research of diseases of the skin
Conducting world-class research in all aspects of cutaneous biology and disease. With a strong focus on teaching, research and clinical excellence, we are training future leaders in dermatology.
Study options
Following background lectures in skin histology, skin cancer prevention and photobiology in Stages 1 and 2 of the graduate medical program (MD), Stage 3 and 4 students then undertake eight weeks of attendance at weekly dermatology clinics. Tutorials during this term cover common and important skin disorders including skin cancer, psoriasis, dermatitis, skin infections and infestations, acne, rosacea and cutaneous signs of internal disease.
Stage 3 and 4 MD students also have the option of a full-time, 4-week integrated clinical attachment in dermatology. This allows you to see a broader range of skin disorders in both outpatients and inpatients, and to observe skin surgery, phototherapy and photodynamic therapy. This option is also provided to elective term medical students from Australia and overseas.
The University offers a range of research opportunites to help you pursue your passion. You can undertake a:
To learn more about research opportunities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health visit our postgraduate research page.
Our research
Over the past 20 years our researchers have made several important breakthroughs, many of which may lead to improved cancer treatments:
- the initial evidence of UVA and UVB involvement in the development of skin cancer leading to a requirement for broad-spectrum sunscreens
- finding novel lymphoid populations in the skin, gamma-delta T cells and type 2 innate lymphoid cells, which may have implications for the cause and treatment for many inflammatory skin disorders
- understanding how golden staph invades the skin and overwhelms the body’s immune defences
- discovery of a new gene (Brm) in skin cancer development representing a fundamental step towards developing cancer treatments.
Research areas
- ONTRANS skin cancer study conducts research on skin cancer in transplant patients.
- Professor Diona Damian, Chief Investigator
- Dr Angela Ferguson
- Clinical Professor Ruta Gupta
- Clinical Associate Professor Guy Lyons
- Clinical Associate Professor Guy Lyons conducts research on cancer invasion and metastasis
- Dr Saxon Smith conducts research on attitudes towards sun protection.
- Ex vivo confocal microscopy for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer:
- Professor Pascale Guitera
- Professor Diona Damian
- Professor Pablo Fernández Peñas conducts research on oncodermatology.
- Professor Pascale Guitera and Dr Helena Collgros Totosaus conduct research on diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for skin tumours, with an emphasis on pigmented lesions (for example, moles and melanoma).
- Professor Diona Damian conducts research on topical and intralesional therapies for advanced melanoma, melanoma immunology.
- Dr Hsien Herbert Chan and Adjunct Associate Professor Lai Guan Ng investigate how the immune system in the skin fights infections and skin tumours, and how immune responses can lead to skin allergies.
Research in this area involves the development of a dermatology transplant database which aims to collect longterm information from this group regarding:
- numbers and types of skin cancers
- immunosuppression regimens
- other dermatological issues, such as acne, dermatitis, infections, rashes, warts
- quality of life.
This work is conducted by the Dermatology Department at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital who are renowned for their expertise in kidney and liver transplantation.
- Dr Patricia Lowe, transplant database, ONTRANS chemoprevention trial
- Dr Adrian Lim, ONTRANS (Royal North Shore Hospital)
- Professor Pablo Fernández Peñas, ONTRANS (Westmead Hospital)
- Professor Diona Damian, ONTRANS
- Dr Hsien Herbert Chan, transplant database
- Professor Alan Cooper, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis
- Associate Professor Gayle Fischer, vulvovaginal disease
- Dr Adrian Lim, vascular diseases
- Clinical Associate Professor Samuel Zagarella, notalgia parasthetica
- Dr Patricia Lowe, quality of life in psoriasis
- Dr Nita Agar, cutaneous T cell lymphoma (national database)
Specialty of Dermatology
Address
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Gloucester House Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Missenden Road Camperdown NSW 2050
Find a researcher in dermatology
Visit the University of Sydney database to view researchers working in dermatology.
Find a researcher