Prof. Sergei A. Grando University of California-Irvine, USA

Sergei A. Grando, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci., is Professor of Dermatology at the University of California Irvine. He is specialized in autoimmune blistering diseases. He is arguably the most experienced doctor in pemphigus, because he treated hundreds of patients with this rare disease. He is closely involved with the international clinical... read moreand research community of patients with and experts in the immunoblistering dermatoses. He is currently Vice Chair of Medical Advisory Board of International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation. In 2010, he received the "Doctor of the Year" award from this foundation. Previously, Dr. Grando utilized pemphigus patients' IgGs as a probe to identify the pathophysiologically relevant target antigens. He has published more than 230 papers, monographs or book chapters, and received a large number of research grants from NIH and other funding agencies. The results of his work have altered the way physicians throughout the world understand the mechanisms of pemphigus.