Translational medicine

Translational medicine members and overview

Translational medicine aims to expedite the discovery of new diagnostic tools and treatments by using a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach driven by patient need. A diverse range of research groups within Ed-Skin contribute to different steps in the translational pathway:

• Professor Wilson Poon and his group work on the structure and flow of ‘goo’, which includes almost all topical formulations for skin, as well as bacterial biophysics, especially motility, adhesion and death.  
• The Carragher laboratory develops and applies the latest advances in image-based high content cell screening technologies together with high throughput protein microarray and NanoString profiling at pathway network level to innovate drug discovery across complex diseases of unmet need, including skin fibrosis.  
• Dr Carole Torsney investigates the pathophysiology of chronic pain following skin and nerve injury  
• Dr Beth Mills uses optical SmartProbes and photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents for the diagnosis and treatment of skin/wound infections.
• Holly Ennis is a Trial Manager and her portfolio includes medical device and imaging studies focused on skin fibrosis, scleroderma-related telangiectasias and Raynaud's.  
• Dr Felicity Mehendale’s research includes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in evaluation of a range of cleft outcomes, identifying early predictors of outcomes, cleft epidemiological studies, perioperative care and standards and access to cleft care globally.
• Professor Sara Brown uses molecular genetics to identify risk mechanisms in atopic eczema for the development of future targeted therapies. Her current research includes a high content screen for drug discovery based on a target identified by GWAS.
• Dr Richard Weller is a clinical academic dermatologist whose research aims to understand a range of aspects of inflammatory skin disease and the effects of ultraviolet light exposure on systemic health.
• Dr Jenna Cash is working on identifying key molecular pathways involved in determining the formation and persistence of chronic non-healing wounds with a view to discovering tractable therapeutic targets. We're also exploring the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that can be utilised by clinicians to inform ulcer treatment strategy.
• Dr Claire Leitch leads on clinical trial research within the NHS Lothian Dermatology department.

Brown Lab

Cash Lab

Carragher Lab

Weller Lab