Investigative dermatology: where do we stand andwhere do we go?For its 37st Annual Meeting Keynote Lecture, the ADF (Arbeits-

gemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung) had invited Stephen

Katz, Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculo-

skeletal and Skin Diseases at the NIH in Bethesda, USA, to share

with our society his view on where we stand and where we

(should) go in experimental dermatology and skin biology

research. Dr Katz has been a leader for both clinical and experi-

mental dermatologists for over 40 years. He has served for more

than 20 years as the chief of the dermatology branch of the

National Cancer Institute. His studies on the immunology of the

skin have led to major insights and a better understanding of

immunological responses of the skin in general as well as to the

generation of novel therapeutic targets of immunologically

mediated diseases. Dr Katz’s interaction with and support of

experimental dermatology in German-speaking countries is long-

standing, much appreciated and exceptional. Numerous scientists

from our society, most of which are now leading their own

successful and independent research programmes, have trained

with Dr Katz over the years. Also, Dr Katz has been helpful as a

reviewer, collaborator and ⁄ or advisor to many network activities

and programmes involving the ADF. We were honoured by Dr

Katz’s presence at this year’s ADF meeting of which his lecture on

the current status of investigative dermatology was a true high-

light. For a young society like ours (or rather a society of the

young), the vision, guidance and leadership provided by Dr Katz

are most important, welcomed and appreciated. Thank you Steve

for your continued help and support for the ADF!

Marcus Maurer (ADF president 2008–2010)

Esther von Stebut (ADF president 2010–2012)

The current status of investigative dermatology II

Stephen I. Katz

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

Correspondence: Stephen I. Katz, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,

USA, Tel.: 301-496-4353, Fax: 301-402-3607, e-mail: katzs@mail.nih.gov

Abstract: Major advances in skin biology and skin diseases are

heralding new and more specific forms of treatment that are

based on better characterization of pathological mechanisms

involved in the individual diseases. The advances that we have

seen are being made by dermatologists, skin biologists, and others

who have come to appreciate the skin as an organ that is

reflective of many important systemic mechanisms. In this

commentary, I identify some of what I feel are the most

important advances that will be the basis for many future studies.

Key words: genetics – immunology – keratinocyte biology – treatment

Accepted for publiation 13 July 2010

It is a great pleasure to be invited to speak again to the Arbeits-

gemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung. I had the great pleasure

of giving the first English-language lecture at your Tenth Jubilee

Meeting in 1982, and, shortly thereafter, I published a summary

of that speech (entitled ‘The current status of investigative derma-

tology’) in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

(1). I thought (and your leadership agreed) that it might be inter-

esting for you (and for me) to try to update my views (hence the

roman numeral II in the title) on where we are now in 2010 with

a particular emphasis on (i) the enormous growth and expansion

of our base of investigative dermatology and our increasing

dependence on each other within and outside of our classical dis-

ciplines, (ii) where we are going, and (iii) what some of our great-

est challenges are for the future of investigative dermatology. This

manuscript provides a summary of the lecture I gave at the 37th

Annual meeting of the ADF in Lubeck on February 18, 2010.

In the second half of the 20th century, dermatology began

developing a very strong scientific basis. The genetic underpin-

nings of so many diseases were elucidated using modern technol-

ogy, the immunological causes and inflammatory mechanisms of

many diseases were also much better defined, and new technolo-

gies enabled a much better understanding of the basic biology of

the cells and tissues that we deal with. These advances, among

others, have contributed greatly to the stature of investigative der-

matology as a scientific discipline. I believe that it was through

the many young dermatologists who undertook bonafide fellow-

ships in disciplines important to skin science that these break-

throughs were enabled.

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2010.01178.x

www.blackwellpublishing.com/EXDViewpoint

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2010.01183.x

www.blackwellpublishing.com/EXDEditorial

ª 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S, Experimental Dermatology, 19, 857–859 857