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Faculty Detail
Name
CRAIG A ELMETS
Campus Address
LHFO 848 Zip 0009
Phone
(205) 934-5188
E-mail
celmets@uab.edu
Other websites
Faculty Appointment(s)
Appointment Type
Department
Division
Rank
Primary
Dermatology
Dermatology
Professor Distinguished
Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations
Hughes Med-Grad Fellowship Program
Integrative Biomedical Sciences
Waiting to be Seated
Research/Clinical Interest
Title
Immunodermatology
Description
Dr. Elmets’ research focuses on the interaction of environmental agents with the skin. His research has particular relevance to skin cancer and cutaneous allergic reactions. In the area of skin cancer, his interests are on skin cancer chemoprevention and therapy. He has played a key role in defining the mechanisms by which the immune system controls the development of skin cancers. More recent studies have centered on the identification of new agents that can protect against skin cancer and on the non-surgical treatment of these malignancies. These include the arthritis drug celecoxib and extracts of green tea. He has also played a major role in the development of photodynamic therapy as a treatment for cancer. Photodynamic therapy utilizes light activated drugs to eradicate cancer. Dr. Elmets’ other area of research is on allergic contact dermatitis, of which poison ivy is the best-known example. He is evaluating better and more accurate diagnostic techniques for contact allergies. His studies have shown that certain proteins called cytokines are synthesized in skin cells from allergic individuals exposed to contact allergens but not in those obtained from people who are the not allergic. These findings provide the conceptual framework for the development of a diagnostic test for skin allergy testing, which can used by physicians and by industry as an alternative to animal testing prior to the introduction of new products into the marketplace.
Selected Publications
Publication
PUBMEDID
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