Chaired by Anthony Oro, MD, PhD, Eugene and Gloria Bauer Professor at Stanford Medicine, the 2025 Montagna Symposium will focus on emerging paradigms in personalized medicine. Population studies have raised questions about why individuals do not respond to established therapies. Patients are individuals with personalized social, behavioral, and genetic determinants, but knowledge gaps exist regarding how these determinants influence diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous diseases. The goal of this Symposium is to highlight emerging avenues of investigation and streamline their incorporation into clinical medicine for our patients. Program Co-Chairs are Masa Amagai, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine and Vice President for Research, Keio University, and Aimee Payne, MD, PhD, Herbert and Florence Irving Professor and Chair of Dermatology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
2025 Program
(subject to change)
Thursday, October 16
| 1:00 p.m. Departure | Shuttle Bus from PDX (Reservation required during registration) |
| 4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Arrival and Check-in |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Opening Reception (Heavy Hors d’oeuvres served) |
| 5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. | Welcome and Introductory Comments Program Chair: Anthony Oro, M.D., Ph.D. (Stanford University) Symposium Co-Directors: Tamia Harris-Tryon, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) |
| 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. | Conference Keynote Howard Chang, M.D., Ph.D. This presentation will describe new mechanistic understandings of why autoimmune diseases preferentially affect women and highlight diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. |
| 7p.m. | Dinner On Your Own |
| 8 p.m. – 11p.m. | Optional Gathering: Outdoor Firepit |
Friday, October 17
| 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. – 8:05 a.m. | Announcements |
| 8:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. | Session 1: Novel Targets for Engineered Cell Therapies While precision immune therapies have revolutionized blood cancer treatment, new evidence indicates their effectiveness in skin autoimmune and cancers as well. Understanding the mechanistic basis of precision immune therapies and the current patient response remains a gap in knowledge that needs to be addressed. |
| 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Aimee Payne, M.D., Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Columbia University Engineered T cells for autoimmunity: emerging data from human clinical trials |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Christoph Ellebrecht, M.D. Assistant Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Controlling T Cell Fate and Function: Therapeutic Applications from Cancer to Autoimmunity |
| 9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Jaehyuk Choi, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Dermatology, Director – Center for Cellular Therapies and Cancer Immunology, UT-Southwestern Genetic Variations Regulating Engineered T-cell Efficacy |
| 10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Michael Girardi, M.D. Professor of Dermatology, Yale University Strategies Overcoming Challenges Targeting T Cell Lymphoma |
| 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #1 |
| 11:45 a.m. – Noon | Short Talk and Discussion #2 |
| Noon – 1:15pm | Lunch Industry Leaders Panel: Breakthroughs in Cell and Gene Therapy (Key takeaways include: recent breakthroughs in cell therapy, industry-academic partnerships and support for IITs, evaluation of early-stage opportunities for licensing/acquisition)Facilitator: William Ju, M.D., President, Advancing Innovation in DermatologyPanelists: G. Grant Welstead, Ph.D., Vice President, Discovery Biology, Century Therapeutics Kiren Kresa-Reahl, M.D., Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development, Cabaletta Bio Ashley Koegel, M.D., Executive Director, Early Clinical Development, Bristol Myers Squibb Shawn Rose, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Head of Research and Development, Nkarta |
| 1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. | Session 2: Tissue Regeneration Therapeutic Approaches Gaps in our medical armamentarium come from the inability to replace many defective tissues due to genetic disease, injury, excessive fibrosis or age. New approaches exist to generate the appropriate genetically corrected tissue or reduce fibrosis, but clinical scale and delivery to the patient remain important hurdles. |
| 1:25 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. | Anthony Oro, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Dermatology, Associate Director – Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine, Stanford University Manufacturing Multilineage Tissue Replacement Therapies for Genetic Diseases |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. | Discussion |
| 2:10 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. | Luis Garza, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University Cellular therapy to modify skin identity |
| 2:40 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | Discussion |
| 2:55 p.m. – 3:25 p.m. | Trevor Parry, Ph.D. VP, Research and Scientific Affairs, Krystal Biotech |
| 3:25 p.m.– 3:40 p.m. | Discussion |
| 3:40 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. | Coffee Break |
| 3:55 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. | Dayan Li, M.D., Ph.D. Clinical Scholar, Dermatology, Stanford University Mechanistic insights into fibrosis versus regeneration |
| 4:25 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. | Discussion |
| 4:40 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #3 |
| 4:55 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #4 |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. | Poster Reception and Wine Tasting |
Saturday, October 18
| 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. – 8:05 a.m. | Announcements |
| 8:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. | Session 3: Novel Immunomodulatory Platforms for Cutaneous Disease Breaking tissue tolerance forms the basis of tissue rejection and pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, but the mechanisms of immune tolerance and therapeutic targets remain poorly validated. This session addresses a gap in knowledge about small molecule and peptide therapies for immunomodulation. |
| 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Masayuki Amagai, M.D., Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Dermatology, Keio University Director – RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Converting Pathogenic Autoimmune T Cells into Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Pemphigus |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Michael Rosenblum, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Dermatology, UC-San Francisco Immune Regulation in Skin |
| 9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Megan Levings, Ph.D. Professor of Surgery, University of British Columbia Investigator and Lead – Childhood Diseases, BC Children’s Hospital Inducing tolerance with regulatory T cell therapy |
| 10:15 a.m. –10:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Michel Enamorado, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center Wired and Guarded: The Neuroimmune Landscape of the Skin |
| 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 11:30 am – 11:45 pm | Short Talk and Discussion #1 |
| 11:45 p.m. – Noon | Short Talk and Discussion #2 |
| Noon – 4:30 p.m. | Lunch (On Your Own) FREE TIME / CASCADE HIKE |
| 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Mentorship Mixer and Reverse Expo Appetizers Served |
| 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Dinner Dinner Keynote Jay P. Siegel, M.D. Reflections on the regulation and development of cell-based and other advanced biologic therapies We will discuss the historical basis for and development of the regulatory paradigm for human tissue, cell, & gene therapies; genesis and nature of FDA programs to accelerate development of such therapies, and genesis and functions of the NASEM Forum on Regenerative Medicines. |
| Poster Competition Awards Travel Award Ceremony: · Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Farber Award · Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) Award · Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology (KSID) Award · Taiwanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (TSID) Award · European Society for Dermatological Research · Montagna Symposium Director’s Award |
Sunday, October 19
| 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. – 8:05 a.m. | Announcements |
| 8:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. | Session 4: Novel Cancer Therapeutics for Cutaneous Oncology This session highlights emerging novel cancer therapy platforms that address gaps in knowledge regarding these future therapies. Understanding the mechanistic basis of novel cancer therapeutics and patient responses will help generate new and more effective technologies. |
| 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Niro Anandasabapathy, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine PD-1 and memory T cells, a smoking gun in ICB cancer efficacy and toxicity |
| 8:45 a.m. – 9 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Y. Erin Chen, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology and Core Member, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Broad Institute Attending Dermatologist, Massachusetts General Hospital How are commensal skin bacteria sensed by the immune system? |
| 9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m. | Discussion |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Derin Keskin, Ph.D. Principal Scientist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University Immunogenic Personal Neoepitopes for Improving Cancer Therapies |
| 10:15– 10:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Anne Lynn Chang, M.D. Professor of Dermatology, Stanford University Clinical trials for non-melanoma skin cancers |
| 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Discussion |
| 11:30 a.m. – 11:45a.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #1 |
| 11:45 a.m. – Noon | Short Talk and Discussion #2 |
| Noon – 1:15 p.m. | Lunch Industry Leaders Panel #2: Research Idea to Improving Lives: Acceleration through Dermatologic Indications (Key takeaways Include: How and why skin diseases represent an attractive first indication for companies developing novel therapeutics.)Facilitator: William Ju, M.D., President, Advancing Innovation in DermatologyPanelists: Vishwas Seshadri, Ph.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer, Director, Abeona Therapeutics Matthew Goldberg, M.D., Senior Vice President, and Jennifer Saam, Ph.D., Executive Director of Medical Affairs, Castle Bioscience Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine |
| 1:15 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. | Session 5: RNA Medicines for Cutaneous Disorders This exciting final session focuses on the dramatic shift in research, clinical development, and commercial activity to exploit the many physiological roles of RNA for use in medicine. These include RNA vaccines, siRNAs, circular RNAs, and splice site modifiers for cancer, immunomodulation and genodermatoses. Identifying targets and manufacturing clinical scale RNA therapies remains a gap in knowledge. |
| 1:25 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. | Alain Hovnanian, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Genetics, University of Paris Laboratory Director, Institut Imagine, INSERM Splice-modulating strategies for treating skin diseases |
| 1:55 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. | Discussion |
| 2:10 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. | John Harris, M.D., Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School From Nobel discoveries to clinical breakthrough: How RNA interference is transforming treatments for inflammatory skin diseases |
| 2:40 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. | Discussion |
| 3:05 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. | William Greenleaf, Ph.D. Professor of Genetics, Stanford University Dissecting developmental programs and distal regulation with large-scale, single cell open chromatin data sets |
| 3:35 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. | Discussion |
| 3:50p.m. – 4:05 p.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #3 |
| 4:05p.m. – 4:20 p.m. | Short Talk and Discussion #4 |
| 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Salmon Bake Dinner Offsite (weather permitting) |
Monday, October 20
| 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. | Breakfast and Depart |
| 8:30 a.m. | Bus Departs for PDX Airport |
2025 Support
Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by a grant (5R13AR009431-58) 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 AR009431-58 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
- Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID) for the JSID Travel Awards for Young Investigators
- Taiwanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (TSID) for the TSID Travel Awards for Young Investigators
The 2025 Symposium is supported by the LEO Foundation (Grant #LF-RN-25-601068)
The 2025 Symposium is supported by a charitable gift from the David M.C. Ju Foundation
The 2025 Symposium is supported by the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF)
The 2025 Montagna Symposium is supported by The Biology of Skin Foundation
The 2025 Symposium is supported through an educational grant from Abbvie
2025 Sponsor Acknowledgement
We thank our generous sponsors for making the 2025 Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin possible.
Champion:
| Abeona |  |
| Castle |  |
Sustainer:
| J&J |  |
Benefactor:
| Amgen |  |
Patron:
| Incyte |  |
| Sanofi |  |
| UCB |  |
Associate:
| Allergan/SkinMedica |  |
| Oregon Dermatology Society |  |