Associate Professor of Dermatology Dr. Ridky is a Penn Medicine physician.
Expertise
Acanthosis Nigricans
Acne
Acne Scar
Acne Surgery
Actinic Cheilitis
Actinic Keratosis
Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis
Aging Skin
Albinism
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic Vasculitis
Alopecia Areata
Anal Condyloma
Anal Warts
Angioma
Angular Cheilitis
Anhidrosis
Anogenital Warts (Condyloma Acuminata)
Aphthous Ulcers
Athlete's Foot
Description of Research Expertise
Epithelial biology
Gene regulatory control of epidermal homeostasis
Epithelial oncogenesis
Tissue models of human malignancy
Description of Research:
The Ridky Lab uses genetically-defined, engineered epithelial tissues as an experimental platform to study pathways driving human cancer initiation, stromal invasion, tumor-stroma interaction, metastasis, and maintenance of cancer stem cells. Tissue models of invasive malignancy are used to identify and validate new targets for potential therapeutics. To maximize the physiologic and medical relevance of our efforts, we develop experimental human tissue systems based on normal primary human cells established within an architecturally faithful native 3-D environment incorporating intact mesenchymal stroma and living stromal cells. Progression to cancer is driven by genetic changes initially identified in spontaneous tumors in humans and specifically engineered into the model tissues. Many experiments are conducted entirely in this organotypic environment, while in vivo studies utilize immunodeficient mice as hosts for the engineered tissues. These new models allow up to 10 alleles or more to be altered simultaneously in 1-2 days, permitting genetic experiments with an unprecedented degree of rapidity and complexity exceeding that previously possible in traditional genetic experimental organisms, such as transgenic mice. These new genetic models, which we refer to as "Multifunctional Human Tissue Genetics", have allowed us to directly convert multiple normal human tissues into invasive cancer via targeted, specific alterations in defined, medically-relevant genetic networks. Bioinformatics-intensive systems biology approaches are used to identify centrally-acting elements that are likely important for promoting cancer progression. To determine functional roles for specific tumor cell or stromal cell-intrinsic factors, we employ various genetic and protein level interventions, including multiplexed expression of tumor-associated mutant oncogenic drivers, tumor suppressors, and conditionally active proteins. Disruption of primary oncogenic signaling and non-oncogene addicted (NOA) pathways is achieved via RNA interference (RNAi), as well as chemical small molecule inhibitors and protein based biologic agents as a foundation for development of targeted molecular therapeutics.