Thea Mauro, MD

My laboratory research has focused on defining ion channels, antiporters and Ca2+ ATP'ases which direct normal keratinocyte differentiation, adhesion, motility and secretion. Our laboratory has combined patch-clamp, ion sensitive dyes, PIXE and molecular biology approaches to study both cellular function and determine the role of these structures in human disease. Most recently, in collaboration with Dr. Ervin Epstein's laboratory, we have identified the mutation and functional consequences of a mutation in a Ca2+ ATP'ase, ATP2C1, which causes an blistering skin condition known as Hailey-Hailey disease. We also study ways to apply information gleaned from our laboratory studies to the treatment of human skin disease, including non-healing skin ulcers, bullous skin disease, and diseases of the epidermal permeability barrier, including atopic dermatitis and aged skin.