We are currently in the process of creating the 2025 Montagna Symposium Program.

2024 Program

(subject to change)

Thursday, Oct 17
Departures: Noon; 2 p.m.	Shuttle Bus from PDX (Reservation required during registration)
1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.	Arrival and Check In LOCATION: RED BLUFF MEZZANINE
3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.	Mentorship Mixer and Reception LOCATION: RED BLUFF MEZZANINE, HOOD ROOM, ADAMS ROOM
5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.	Welcome and Introductory Comments Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD (OHSU) Dennis Roop, PhD (University of Colorado), Tamia Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) LOCATION: STEVENSON BALLROOM
5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.	Keynote: Tina Lasisi, PhD (University of Michigan) “Pigmentation and Perception: Evolutionary Biology, Human Variation, and the Social Dimensions of Skin Color” Keynote Talk support provided by The Leakey Foundation, the leading nonprofit funder of research dedicated to understanding human origins. The Leakey Foundation combines science and education to explore our shared past, understand our present, and inspire a better future. To find out more: www.leakeyfoundation.org
6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.	Dinner LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.	*Rest and Reflect* Optional Gathering: Forest Fire Pit

Friday, Oct 18
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.	Breakfast LOCATION: RED BLUFF MEZZANINE
8:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m.	Introductory Remarks and Announcements Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD (OHSU) Dennis Roop, PhD (University of Colorado) Tamia Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) LOCATION (ALL TALKS): STEVENSON BALLROOM
8:10 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.	Session 1: Cutting Edge Science in Diseases that Disproportionately Impact Patients with Skin of Color Session Moderator: Crystal Aguh, MD (Johns Hopkins University)
8:15 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.	Tamia Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) Health Disparities in Dermatology
8:35 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.	Discussion
8:45 a.m. – 9:05 a.m.	Tina Lasisi, PhD (University of Michigan) Genetics and hair texture: Evolution of hair diversity
9:05 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.	Discussion
9:20 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.	Crystal Aguh, MD (Johns Hopkins University) Investigating the role of metabolic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of CCCA
9:40 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.	Discussion
9:55 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.	Jillian Richmond, PhD (University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School) Spatial transcriptomics and proteomics of Mycosis Fungoides biopsies from Skin of Color patients reveals novel biomarkers and potential treatment targets
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Discussion
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Break LOCATION: RED BLUFF MEZZANINE
10:45 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.	Todd W. Ridky MD, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) Effects of sex steroids on human pigment synthesis
11:05 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.	Discussion
11:20 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.	John E. Harris, MD, PhD (University of Massachusetts) Translational research in vitiligo: Launching a new era of targeted treatments
11:40 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.	Discussion
11:55 p.m. – 12:10 p.m.	Short Talk — SID Farber Awardee Bonnie C. Carney, PhD (Georgetown University) Dyschromia in burn scars in SOC
12:10 p.m. – 12:25 p.m.	Short Talk — SID Farber Awardee Courtney M. Johnson, MD, PhD (Johns Hopkins University) scRNA-Seq Reveals Differential Gene Expression of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Markers in Mycosis Fungoides Patients of Color
12:25 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.	Lunch LOCATION: RED BLUFF MEZZANINE
1:25 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Session 2: The Microbiome, Health Inequities, and Skin Disease Session Moderator: Tamia Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.	Tamia Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) The influence of diet and environment on the skin microbiome
1:50 p.m. – 2 p.m.	Discussion
2 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.	Steven D. Townsend, PhD (Vanderbilt University) How sugars in breastmilk shape infant microbiome
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.	Discussion
2:35 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.	Melissa B. Manus, PhD, MSc (University of Texas at San Antonio) Applying ecological, evolutionary, and anthropological perspectives to study the influence of early life environments on the infant skin microbiome.
2:55 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.	Discussion
3:10 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.	Break LOCATION: CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
3:25 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.	P’ng Loke, PhD (NIH) The skin microbiome and fungal infections of indigenous Malaysians
3:45 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Discussion
4 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.	Tiffany Scharschmidt, MD (University of California, San Francisco) Early Life Microbiome Crosstalk: Imprinting Long-term Immune Health
4:20 p.m. – 4.35 p.m.	Discussion
4:35 p.m. – 4:55 p.m.	Ian Myles, MD, MPH (NIH) Microbial Therapeutics: what, how, and why
4:55 p.m. – 5:10 p.m.	Discussion
5:10 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.	Short Talk Florentia Dimitriou, MD PhD (MD Anderson Cancer Center) Delineating the role of the microbiome and tumor microenvironment interactions driving mucosal melanoma (MM) response and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment
5:25 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.	Short Talk — Director’s Award For Diversity Tammy Gonzalez, MD, PhD (University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine) Characterization of Actinotignum schaalii in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Metagenomic Insights and Inflammatory Implications
5:40 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.	Short Talk — SID Farber Awardee Aayushi Uberoi, PhD (Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis) Commensal microbes fortify skin barrier through Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor signaling
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	Dinner and Awards Presentation Society of Investigative Dermatology Eugene M. Farber Travel Awards Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology Travel Award Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology Travel Award Taiwanese Society for Investigative Dermatology Award European Society for Dermatological Research: ESDR Travel Award Molly Kulesz-Martin Director’s Award for Diversity LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	Poster Reception & Wine Tasting LOCATION: STEVENSON BALLROOM, CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY

Saturday, Oct 19
7 a.m. – 8 a.m.	Breakfast LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM
8 a.m. – 8:05 a.m.	Announcements LOCATION (ALL TALKS): STEVENSON BALLROOM
8:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.	Session 3: Inflammatory Itch and the Skin Barrier in SOC Session Moderator: Shawn G. Kwatra, MD (University of Maryland)
8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.	Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, MSCE (University of Pennsylvania) Health disparities research in inflammatory skin diseases: what are the roles of race, ethnicity, and social and environmental factors?
8:45 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Discussion
9 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.	Cristina de Guzman Strong, PhD (Henry Ford Health & Michigan State University) Human Skin Barrier Evolution Out of Africa and Impact on Skin Health Disparities
9:20 a.m. – 9:35 a.m.	Discussion
9:35 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.	Tesfaye B. Mersha, PhD (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center) Precision medicine in atopic dermatitis care? How genomic and social determinants inform racial disparities in atopic dermatitis
9:55 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.	Discussion
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.	Break LOCATION: CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
10:25 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Shawn Kwatra, MD (University of Maryland) Genetic and immunologic features of prurigo nodularis in African Americans
10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m.	Discussion
11 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.	Eric Simpson MD, MCR (OHSU) Clinical trials, ethnic/reported-race prevalence and severity
11:20 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.	Discussion
11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.	Short Talk — SID Farber Awardee Yue Xing, PhD (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) A developing HPA axis permits neonatal immune sensitivity to common allergens
11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.	Short Talk Leonid Shmuylovich, MD, PhD (Washington University School of Medicine) Going beyond the visible to achieve equitable skin imaging
12:05 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.	Short Talk Olivia Choi, MD, PhD, FAAD (Johnson and Johnson) VISIBLE: Guselkumab (GUS) skin and scalp clearance in skin of color (SOC) participants (pts) by baseline (BL) inflammatory disease burden
12:20 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.	Lunch & Industry Leaders Panel Diversifying Recruitment in Clinical Trials: Best Practices in Study Design, Recruitment, and Retention. Featuring Moderator: Shawn Kwatra, MD and Panelists: Olivia Choi, MD, PhD, FAAD (Medical Director, Dermatology, Johnson & Johnson) Stephanie Lyke, MS (Associate Director, Clinical Trial Head, Incyte) Jean-Philippe Therrien, PhD (Sr Scientific Director, Allergan Aesthetics Ayman Grada, MD, MS (Medical Director, Dermatology, Medical Affairs + Health Impact, AbbVie)LOCATION: STEVENSON BALLROOM
1:20 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.	Free Time (Optional; free) Skamania Lodge Nature Walk — 1:30 p.m. (Meet at hotel lobby) (Optional; free) Skamania Lodge Nature Walk — 3:30 p.m. (Meet at hotel lobby) (Optional; free) Art Walk with Dr. Lynn McKinley Grant — 1:45 p.m. (Meet at gift shop) (Sign-up required; free) Bonneville Dam and Fish Ladder with Dr. Sancy Leachman — 1:45 p.m. (Meet at the hotel lobby) (Sign-up required; paid) Multnomah Falls Tours — 1:45 p.m.; 3 p.m. (Meet at hotel lobby) (Additional paid activities): https://www.skamania.com/experiences
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.	Dinner Sponsored by Skin of Color Society (SOCS), in partnership with Pfizer. Immerse yourself in SOCS’s mission and vision and uncover how you can play a vital role in advancing dermatologic care for diverse communities. Dinner features an exclusive presentation by Dr. Donald Glass, II, MD, PhD, as well as presentation of Poster Competition Awards. LOCATION: STEVENSON BALLROOM
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	Small Group Discussion Round Tables (Sign-Up Required) Determinates of Health: From Social to Biological, and Back – Dr. Valerie Horsley and Dr. Rebecca Vasquez The Biology and Beauty of Pigmentation: Genetics and Representation in Art – Dr. Tina Lasisi and Dr. Lynn McKinley-Grant Keloids: Progress and Perils – Dr. Donald Glass The Biology of Pigmentation – Dr. Todd Ridky and Dr. Sancy Leachman Skin microbiome and Anthropology – Dr. Tamia Harris-Tryon and Dr. Melissa Manus Light, Lasers, and Pigmentation – Dr. Jared Jagdeo and Dr. Leo Shmuylovich Publishing to Improve Global Connections and Address Disparities – Dr. Jodi (JJ) Johnson Peer Review and Publication – JID – Dr. Erwin Tschachler, Elizabeth Blalock, and Dr. Annalisa VanHook HS Collaborative Research – Dr. Angel Byrd How to get your first R-13 or R21 Grant from the NIH – Dr. Ricardo Cibotti, Dr. Alexey Belkin, and Dr. Peter Koch Inflammatory Disease and Skin of Color – Dr. Shawn Kwatra and Dr. Junko Takeshita LOCATIONS (TO BE ASSIGNED): STEVENSON, CASCADE LOCKS, HOOD, ADAMS, SUMMIT 1, 2, 3
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.	Optional Gathering: Forest Fire Pit

Sunday, Oct 20
7:00 a.m. – 8 a.m.	Breakfast LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM
8 a.m. – 8:05 a.m.	Announcements LOCATION (ALL TALKS): STEVENSON BALLROOM
8:05 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.	Session 4: Hidradenitis suppurativa Session Moderator: Angel S. Byrd, MD PhD (Howard University) Introduction/Overview of HS research in skin of color
8:25 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.	Haley Naik, MD (University of California, San Francisco) The Reasons Why: A Focus on the Landscape of HS
8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Christos C. Zouboulis, MD, PhD (Staedtisches Klinikum Dessau, Brandenburg Medical School) HS pathophysiology and unmet needs in the field
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Discussion
9:15 a.m. – 9:35 a.m.	Amanda Nelson, PhD (Penn State) The microbial landscape of HS basic science/translational research
9:35 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.	Discussion
9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.	Carmelo Carmona-Rivera, PhD (NIH) Immune dysregulation of HS
10:10 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.	Discussion
10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.	Break LOCATION: CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
10:40 a.m. – 11 a.m.	Margaret Lowe, PhD (University of California, San Francisco) Tertiary lymphoid structures and hidradenitis suppurativa lesional evolution: Cause or consequence?
11 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.	Discussion
11:15 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.	Lynn Petukhova, PhD (New York University) Hidradenitis suppurativa genetic studies: three questions
11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.	Discussion
11:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.	Short Talk — Director’s Award for Diversity Beita Badiei (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) Common non-familial Hidradenitis Suppurativa fibroblasts have low Nicastrin expression and gamma secretase function priming them for inflammation
12:05 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch & NIH Talk 12:20 – 12:40 p.m. Ricardo Cibotti, PhD (NIH) HS Funding Landscape – NIAMS – What gaps have been filled or need to be filled LOCATION: STEVENSON BALLROOM
1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.	Session 5: The Landscape of Keloid Research Session Moderator: Donald Glass, MD, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
1:20 p.m. – 1:40 p.m.	Valerie Horsley, PhD (Yale University) The function of dermal adipocytes in skin repair
1:40 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.	Discussion
1:55 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.	Maksim Plikus, PhD (UC Irvine) Bioinformatic decoding of keloid fibroblasts and disease-associated signals
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Discussion
2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.	Lamont R. Jones, MD, MBA, FACS (Henry Ford Health) miRNA and Keloid Disease
2:50 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.	Discussion
3:05 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.	Ardeshir Bayat, MD, PhD (University of Cape Town) Immunology of keloids
3:25 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.	Discussion
3:40 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.	Break
4:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Ernst Reichenberger, PhD (University of Connecticut) Genetics of familial keloids
4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.	Discussion
4:45 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.	Dorothy Supp, PhD (University of Cincinnati) The function of vitamin D in keloid biology
5:05 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.	Discussion
5:20 p.m. – 5:35 p.m.	Short Talk — Director’s Award for Diversity Sepideh Hamzehlou, PhD (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center RUNX2: beyond bone and into skin
5:35 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.	Short Talk — SID Farber Award Allen Oak, MD (University of Pennsylvania) Traction to hair engages mechanotransduction to drive fibrosis in scarring alopecias
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	Dinner LOCATION: GARDEN PATIO / CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM (WEATHER PERMITTING)
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.	Optional Gathering: David Norris Karaoke Celebration Honoring David Norris, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, and Former Montagna Symposium Co-Director (No charge) LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM

Monday, Oct 21
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.	Breakfast LOCATION: CASCADE LOCKS BALLROOM
8:15 a.m.	Bus departs for PDX Airport LOCATION: CONFERENCE CENTER LOBBY
~9:30 a.m.	Bus arrives at PDX Airport

2024 Support

Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by a grant (5R13AR009431-57) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

The Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin gratefully acknowledges:

NIH Grant Number 2 R13 AR009431-57 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) for the SID Eugene M. Farber Travel Awards for Young Investigators
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) for the ESDR Travel Award for Young Investigators
Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) for the JSID Travel Awards for Young Investigators
Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology (KSID) for the KSID Travel Awards for Young Investigators
Taiwanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (TSID) for the TSID Travel Awards for Young Investigators
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Grants from:

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund serves and strengthens society by nurturing a diverse group of leaders in biomedical sciences to improve human health through education and powering discovery in frontiers of greatest need

The Leakey Foundation is the leading nonprofit funder of human origins research. This year, they are providing award travel support for speakers from the field of anthropology. Together, we are advancing our mission to explore and explain our shared human story.

The Leakey Foundation combines science and education to illuminate our past, understand our present, and inspire a better future. Watch “Still So Much to Discover”.

The LEO Foundation

The Foundation provides philanthropic grants with the aim to support the best international research in skin diseases and make Denmark a global beacon for skin research.

The Skin of Color Society (SOCS) is the world’s leading professional dermatologic organization dedicated to achieving health equity and excellence in patient care through research, education, mentorship, and advocacy. SOCS is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in the field of dermatology to advance patient care.

This Symposium is supported in part by an educational grant from Pfizer

This Symposium is supported in part by an educational grant from Incyte

This Symposium is supported in part by an educational grant from Abbvie