The Le Lab publishes their manuscript in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on KROX20 as a marker of a stem cell population that is required for hair formation and regeneration.

12/5/2024

Co-authors Dr. Elnaz Ghotbi and Dr. Edem Tchegnon showed that the transcription factor KROX20 is a novel marker for an ancestral epidermal stem cell population in the hair follicle that…

Dr. Nipunika Somatilaka publishes her manuscript reporting on STING/ICB for MPNST in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

3/1/2024

Dr. Somatilaka’s studies showed that STING agonist treatment of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), a “cold” tumor lacking immune cells, could sensitize the tumors to immune checkpoint blockade in…

Dr. Lu Q. Le joins the UVA School of Medicine as the new Chair of the Department of Dermatology.

1/1/2024

Dr. Lu Q. Le joins the UVA School of Medicine as the new Chair of the Department of Dermatology. Dr. Le, a physician-scientist and internationally recognized researcher in the cancer…

Congratulations to Dr. Nipunika Somatilaka on her selection for a Children’s Tumor Foundation Young Investigator Award.

3/1/2022

The mission of the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) is to drive research, expand knowledge, and advance care for the NF community. The CTF initiated the Young Investigator Award in 1985…

Congratulations to Dr. Chunhui Jiang on his selection for a prestigious Early Investigator Research Award

2/1/2022

The Neurofibromatosis Research Program (NFRP) was established in 1996 when the efforts of NF advocates led to congressional appropriation to fund research in NF. The Early Investigator Research Award supports…

We share our experience on training Physician-Scientists for a career in Investigative Dermatology

10/1/2021

Dermatology is an increasingly popular destination for physician-scientist trainees, however the proportion of trainees who pursue scientific research careers after training is among the lowest of all medical specialties. We…

Mouse model of Dry Eye Disease based on deletion of a newly identified stem cell population that gives rise to the Meibomian gland

9/1/2021

Dry Eye Disease is a common ophthalamic problem and 90% of cases are caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. The Meibomian glands are holocrine sebaceous glands located in the tarsal plates…

First-in-kind genetically engineered nodular cutaneous mouse models reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation

1/1/2021

This study from the Le Lab reports two different model systems that give rise to both plexiform (pNF) and nodular cutaneous (cNF) neurofibroma. The first model uses induced human pluripotent…

Study identifying molecular mechanisms driving Schwannoma development featured on the cover of JCI Insight

10/1/2020

The Le Lab reports on molecular mechanisms driving the development of Schwannoma, a tumor of the Schwann cell in patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis. They provide direct genetic…

Congratulations to Dr. Jean-Philippe Brosseau and Dr. Juan Mo

5/1/2019

Congratulations to Dr. Jean-Philippe Brosseau and Dr. Juan Mo from the Le Lab for being selected for the Early Investigator Research Award from the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed…