NEW YORK, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to working alongside dermatologists, the La Roche-Posay North American Fondation encourages residents, fellows, and new practitioners (up to five years) to develop innovative programs in the field of clinical, biological or pharmacological research linked to dermatology. The brand and a board of certified dermatologists award 2-3 outstanding candidates with grants for their scientific research and ground-breaking projects in dermatology.

The winners include: Bryan Sun, MD, Assistant Professor, University of California, San Diego; Dennis Kim, MD, Incoming Mohs Fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital 2017; and Kyle Amber, MD, University of California Irvine, Department of Dermatology. The winners were selected by a scientific committee, including Chairman Dr. Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Residency Program Director and Director of Translational Research in the Department of Dermatology at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences; Dr. Jeanette Jakus, MD, MBA, FAAD, FAAP, Director of Clinical Research and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center; Dr. Vincent Ho, MD, Clinical Director, Stem Cell Transplantation Program Senior Physician, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Sanjay Siddha, dermatologist at the University Health Network, Vice President of the Toronto Dermatological Society; Dr. Joseph Jorizzo, M.D., Professor, and Former and Founding Chair of the Dermatology Department at Wake Forest University and Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College; and Dr. Joel Cohen, MD, Director of AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery. The winners will be recognized at the Annual American Academy of Dermatology meeting in Orlando, Florida this month.

Dr. Sun was granted the first prize of $10,000 for his project aimed at investigating the function of the proteasomal protein, PSMD8, on the health of epidermal stem cells and epidermal tissue. The goal is to identify and characterize genetic changes that contribute to decreased epidermal cell function during the aging process, in hopes of identifying key therapeutic molecular targets that can promote skin health and function. "The changes that accompany skin aging have significant effects on health such as potential for infections and increased susceptibility to ulcers and chronic wounds. The incidence of skin cancer also increases with age." Dr. Sun continues, "In the skin, the biological significance of PSMD8 has not been well-studied."

Dr. Kim has been awarded with $5,000 for his project to help create a new, effective, and cheap treatment for snakebites. Dr. Kim shares, "Snake bite is a neglected disease affecting millions of lives annually with limited treatment options. We are developing a tumescent technique to neutralize snake venom and slow its systemic spread. The grant provides key support to transition our project from promising proof of concept animal studies to potential clinical trials."

Dr. Amber received $5,000 to continue his research on the expression of VCAM-1 on HET1A keratinocytes and their role in the pathobiology of eosinophil mediated cutaneous diseases and eosinophilic esophagitis. "Eosinophil mediated diseases remain poorly understood… Elucidation of the pathogenic role of eosinophils, as well as an understanding of their biology once escaped from the vascular system will provide a class of potential treatments in these eosinophil mediated diseases." Dr. Amber concludes, "The discovery of VCAM-1 on esophageal epithelium provides a novel pathway of eosinophil adhesion in peripheral tissue."

As part of its ongoing commitment to dermatology, La Roche-Posay continues its Dermatologist from the Heart program. A unique initiative that underscores the iconic brand's altruistic approach to skincare, Dermatologist from the Heart provides grant money to fund community-oriented projects that make dermatology available to all and enhance the quality of life for patients. A panel of dermatologists including Chairman Dr. Thomas Rohrer, Dr. Alysa Herman, Dr. Timothy Flynn, and Dr. Susan Weinkle evaluated each proposal and awarded a winner based on the proposal's originality, creativity, impact on patients' quality of life, method and feasibility before naming the most promising candidate. La Roche-Posay is excited to announce this year's winner in the United States, in partnership with La Roche-Posay North American Fondation – John Strasswimmer, MD, PhD, and President of Dermatology Medical Missions, Inc.

Dr. Strasswimmer is the recipient of a $6,500 grant in support of his exceptional initiative Healthy Skin for All – the first research-validated global sun safety and skin health education program to educate "people of color" about the risks of sun exposure. "Skin cancers, by the time they are diagnosed in darker skin are at a later stage," Dr. Strasswimmer, explains. "This makes treatment more difficult, more expensive, and less likely to be curative." Healthy Skin for All is designed to work globally, regardless of ethnicity, skin color, or literacy. This multilingual program reaches underserved communities, and trains and empowers members to provide these educational sessions. Dr. Strasswimmer shares, "To date, hundreds of people have received this important teaching on sun protection."

2017 marks the fifth year of the Dermatologist from the Heart program in the United States. Through this program, the La Roche-Posay North American Fondation seeks to further its goal of making the invaluable skills, knowledge and expertise of dermatologists available to the broader public.

About the Dermatologist from the Heart Program
Committed to working alongside dermatologists, La Roche-Posay created its namesake foundation in 1995 to encourage dermatological research in the fields of clinical medicine, biology and pharmacology. The Dermatologist from the Heart program is the latest initiative to join the La Fondation La Roche-Posay's several other global community-oriented programs, which include the Atopy Schools initiative that helps atopic dermatitis patients and their families face the challenges of the disease, as well as the Corrective Make-Up Workshops, which are devoted to instilling self-confidence in patients suffering from skin lesions.

About LA ROCHE-POSAY
Recommended by dermatologists worldwide, La Roche-Posay offers a unique range of daily skincare developed with dermatologists for every skin type and to promote good skincare practices at home every day. Started from Europe's leading center of thermal dermatology, La Roche-Posay develops formulas with its exclusive Selenium-rich water, used at the center since 1905 to treat the skin of over 7,500 patients every year thanks to its antioxidant and soothing properties. The products are developed using a strict formulation charter with a minimal number of ingredients and are formulated with ingredients at optimal concentrations. Additionally, La Roche-Posay products undergo stringent clinical testing for efficacy and safety, even on sensitive skin.

For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.us and follow La Roche-Posay USA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LaRochePosayUSA

SOURCE La Roche-Posay

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