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| Name |
Christiano, Angela |
| Location
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Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons |
| Primary Field
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Medical Physiology and Metabolism |
| Secondary Field
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Genetics |
 Election Citation
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Christiano's research provided therapeutic opportunities for millions of patients with genetic skin and hair disorders, and the autoimmune disease, alopecia areata. |
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Research Interests
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Angela Christiano's research program is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control skin and hair follicle homeostasis by studying the manner in which these processes are perturbed in human skin diseases and mouse models. The lab utilizes a classical genetic approach to study inherited skin and hair disorders in humans, by identifying causal genes and their impact on disease. The lab performs functional studies in mice, as well as 3D models of skin diseases that address basic questions relating to skin autoimmunity and inflammation, cell adhesion, basement membrane zone biology, epidermal differentiation and hair growth and cycling, among others. The underlying hypothesis that drives much of the lab's work is that defining the gene(s) responsible for a disease phenotype is the key initial step in understanding disease pathogenesis. The lab's recent work has been focused on defining the genetic basis of the autoimmune disorder, alopecia areata, using GWAS studies, gene expression analyses, single-cell RNAseq, and functional immunology using the C3H/HeJ mouse model which closely mimics the human disease. Their work in alopecia areata has led to development of targeted therapies for this disease, based on defining the underlying immunopathogenesis using genetic approaches. |
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