Helen Vaher
External Postdoc, Postdoc
My research has focused on understanding the development of different inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (AD), and vitiligo, and the role of keratinocytes and microRNAs in this. The prevalence of inflammatory skin diseases is increasing therefore it is crucial to understand how these diseases develop and what cells and molecular pathways are involved in this. In greater detail, I have mainly worked on projects focusing on the role of miRNAs in psoriasis and AD and how miRNAs regulate the immune responses and proliferation of keratinocytes. In my previous work leading to three first-author publications, I demonstrated that miR-146a/b and miR-10a inhibit inflammation and proliferation of keratinocytes by regulating the activity of the NF-κB pathway.
In recent years my interest has shifted to the role of T cells in inflammatory skin diseases as I have always found the field of immunology and the role of T cells in immunological responses fascinating. My current work focuses on different epidermal T-cell subsets in response to different contact allergens however this is in line with my main research interest which is microRNAs in the development of skin diseases, however now I intend to determine their role in tissue-resident memory cells in the context of allergic contact dermatitis.
ID: 288453919