Dermatology Clinical Studies Unit

The Dermatology Clinical Studies Unit of the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology is part of the Skin and Cancer Unit. Established in the 1970s, NYU Langone’s Dermatology Clinical Studies Unit has developed into one of the nation's most distinguished centers for clinical research in dermatology.

The Unit is primarily responsible for carrying out clinical trials of drugs and medical devices aimed at treating disorders of the skin, hair, and nails.

Clinical trials are research studies designed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of new therapies for diseases. This not only advances the potential treatment options for patients experiencing skin diseases, but also promotes greater understanding into the possible causes and natural evolution of acute and chronic illnesses.

Individuals in our clinical trials may participate in a variety of trial types and designs. Clinical trials conducted in the Unit are geared not only toward individuals experiencing common skin conditions, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and eczema, alopecia (hair loss), acne, and skin infections but also skin cancers including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and rarer diseases, including autoimmune illnesses such as skin lupus and pemphigus vulgaris.

The safety of our patients is of utmost importance to us. Patients are carefully monitored by physicians, and all clinical trials must be first approved by an Institutional Review Board. Prior to entering a clinical trial, our patients meet with a member of our Clinical Studies Unit to discuss the study design and their suitability and eligibility to participate. 

Should an investigational trial be appropriate, a patient will be presented with an informed consent package to review and sign. This provides information about the study, the investigational drug or therapy, and the patient’s rights and responsibilities as a partner and participant in this important scientific endeavor.