Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology
Welcome to the Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology (CCSD), founded in 2023 by Drs. Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE and David J. Margolis, MD, PhD who serve as the Director and Associate Director, respectively, of this initiative. As a scientific home for both new and established faculty, we are dedicated to pioneering clinical sciences research applied to dermatology.
Our Mission
At CCSD, our mission is to lead cutaneous clinical epidemiological research and clinical evaluation aspects of translational research in dermatology. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we strive to advance the understanding and treatment of dermatological conditions through rigorous scientific inquiry and collaborative efforts while pushing for integration of latest research findings into clinical practice.
Our research spans a wide spectrum of dermatological conditions, ranging from common ailments like acne to rare diseases such as lymphoma and vitiligo. With a focus on rigorous epidemiological, statistical, informatics, and clinical translational science methods, we strive to integrate knowledge from the basic study of cutaneous illnesses to benefit the broader population.
Our Expertise
We boast several cores of expertise, including Dermatopharmacoepidemiology, Instrument Development, Health Services Research, Informatics, Qualitative Research, Dissemination Research, Community-based Participatory Research, Environmental Epidemiology, Health Equity and Disparities Research, and Molecular/Genetic Epidemiology.
Our Faculty
Our team comprises seven full-time senior investigators who are trained epidemiologists/biostatisticians and experts in observational studies, large-scale administrative and medical records databases, clinical trials, pragmatic studies, qualitative research, and implementation science.
CCSD Directors
CCSD Core Faculty/ Senior Investigators
Zelma C Chiesa Fuxench, MD, MSCE
Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, MSCE
Our Research Initiatives
We collect observational and interventional data from over 50 dermatology sites across the US, participating in the Dermatology Clinical Effectiveness Research Network (DCERN). Additionally, CCSD hosts several novel datasets, including the incident health outcomes and psoriasis events study (iHOPE), imaging, data, and blood specimens from the vascular inflammation in psoriasis trials, and various other impactful studies focused on pediatric eczema, genetic cohorts, and general practice cohorts.
Opportunities for Training and Collaboration
We offer various fellowships for collaboration with our dermatology research faculty across multiple projects, including but not limited to:
Join us in advancing dermatological research and making an impact on patient care and public health outcomes.