CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY AT BRADFORD UNIVERSITY

Researchers in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences have proof of a long-held theory related to the pigmentary disorder of the skin, vitiligo.

This disease affects one in two hundred of the world population. Using a variety of techniques, including non-invasive in vivo Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy, Professor Karin Schallreuter together with Dr Jeremy Moore, a former PhD student of hers, have proved that patients with vitiligo accumulate hydrogen peroxide in their skin. The hydrogen peroxide can be removed from the skin with a pseudocatalase (PC-KUS). This development has been the result of continuous basic research over many years, together with her husband Professor John Wood, also in Biomedical Sciences. More than 700 patients worldwide have been successfully treated with pseudocatalase (PC-KUS).

Professor Schallreuter trained initially as a biochemist, followed later by a full medical training with continued specialisation in Dermatology. This background places her in the unique position of being equally comfortable working in the laboratory in molecular biology or in the clinic.

Five years ago Professor Schallreuter moved from the University of Hamburg to accept the Herbert A. Stiefel-endowed chair of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. This appointment made her into the first female full professor in the department. The endowment by Stiefel International Laboratories, Coral Gables, Florida, USA, was granted in supporting basic research and its clinical application for skin and hair pigmentation and was based on her scientific contributions in the field. Since Professor Schallreuter moved to Bradford she has kept one foot in Germany and established the first Institute for Pigmentary Disorders in this country. This Institute is associated with the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University at Greifswald where Professor Schallreuter holds an honorary chair.

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