Introducing the 2026 DF Research Award Recipients!
The DF congratulates its 2026 research award recipients! The Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Committee reviewed many promising proposals and identified those which are most meritorious and impactful for the future of dermatology. We are pleased to support the work of these individuals.
Dermatology Focus™ - The Spring Edition
Transforming Diagnosis and Care of Patients with Pyoderma Gangrenosum
For Alex Ortega, MD, a medical school encounter with pemphigus foliaceus in Peru helped shape a career devoted to helping patients with complex, often overlooked skin disease. Now a professor and interim chair of dermatology at OHSU, Ortega is working to improve the diagnosis, measurement, and treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum, a painful and notoriously difficult inflammatory condition. Through clinical research, imaging innovation, and patient-centered care, he is helping move the field toward faster diagnosis, better trials, and more meaningful outcomes for patients.
The Next CME Program You Won't Want to Miss
The 2027 DF Clinical Symposium will be held January 27–30, 2027 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort. Save the dates and plan to attend the 24th annual CME meeting developed especially for practicing dermatologists.
For more than two decades, the Dermatology Foundation’s annual DF Clinical Symposium has gathered leading dermatology experts to share emerging knowledge and practical perspectives that shape clinical practice.
Hear from an exceptional lineup of faculty who will deliver timely perspectives on topics you can take directly into practice.
Every practicing dermatologist—and their patients—benefit from new treatments unlocked by research.
Since 1964, the Dermatology Foundation has invested in groundbreaking research leading to new knowledge, treatments, and cures. In 2026, the Foundation continued its investment and awarded over $3.6 million in research funding. This accomplishment is made possible with the ongoing support of our dedicated members, corporate partners, and friends. Their generosity sustains this advancement of patient care.
The Potential of Investigators is Infinite
The Dermatology Foundation invests in early and mid-career researchers with novel ideas and the potential to achieve scientific breakthroughs that lead to new treatments and cures. Our current award recipients are uncovering new knowledge about the topics below, which represent a sample of the Foundation's research portfolio. As science evolves, the potential for more breakthrough research in dermatology expands—and the DF is there to support each step forward.
- Acne and Rosacea
- Allergy
- Atopic Dermatitis
- Auto-immunity
- Blistering Diseases
- Carcinogenesis and Cancer Genetics
- Chemoprevention
- Clinical Trial / Therapeutics
- Contact Dermatitis
- Cutaneous Lymphoma
- Connective Tissue Disease
- Epidemiology and Public Health
- Epidermal Structure and Barrier Function
- Genetic Diseases, Gene Regulation and Gene Therapy
- Growth Factors, Cell Adhesion and Matrix Biology
- Hair Disorders
- Healthcare Delivery
- Immunity and Lymphocyte Biology
- Immunotherapy
- Infectious Disease
- Inflammation
- Melanoma
- Microbiology
- Microbiome
- Mohs Surgery
- Mouse Models
- Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Pharmacology and Drug Development
- Photobiology
- Pigmentation and Melanocyte Biology
- Psoriasis
- Scar
- Skin and Hair Developmental Biology
- Skin of Color
- Stem Cell
- Tissue Regeneration and Wound Healing
- Tumor Immunology
- Vitiligo / Pigmentation
- Women’s Health
There is no such thing as a small contribution; every action creates impact.
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