Clinical academic dermatologist Professor Sara Brown was awarded the historically significant position in October 2023 Image Image credit: Eddie Middleton As the fifth Grant Chair, Professor Brown is the first female to hold this important position. Sara is a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow and she works as a Consultant Dermatologist for NHS Lothian. Her research focuses on understanding how a person’s genetic make-up predisposes to the inflammatory skin disease atopic eczema and associated systemic conditions. The ultimate aim of Professor Brown’s work is to define targets for the development of new and better treatments for people affected by eczema, dry skin (ichthyoses) and related allergic conditions. Professor Brown is dedicated to patient care and public engagement, seeking the input of patients, families and communities as an essential component driving her research. Sara recently appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and through Surface Echoes she is leading a collaborative project to amplify the voices of people living with eczema. About the Grant Chair of Dermatology The Grant Chair of Dermatology at the University of Edinburgh, a professorship endowed by Sir Robert Grant, was the first full chair for Dermatology in Great Britain and Ireland. The Grant family came to fortune through the hard work of Robert’s father Sir Alexander Grant who devised and produced the digestive biscuit while working for McVitie and Price Ltd. Robert Grant himself had personal experience of eczema, developing the skin condition on his legs after a shooting expedition. Grant’s doctor and friend George Percival was the initial incumbent of the Chair in 1945, securing a place for dermatology in the Scottish academic research landscape. After World War II, the University’s reputation as a leader in the field continued to grow, attracting enthusiastic postgraduates from the UK and abroad. Read more about Sir Alexander Grant on Wikipedia I am honoured and delighted to have been awarded this prestigious role and it represents an important endorsement of the position for dermatological research at the University of Edinburgh. Human skin is essential to many aspects of health and dermatology research can provide insights from molecular genetic studies through to population data and clinical trials for a wide range of diseases. I look forward to working with colleagues and collaborators across Edinburgh, nationally and internationally to further develop this important research to improve the lives of our dermatology patients. Professor Sara BrownGrant Chair of Dermatology Related links Visit the Sara Brown Research Group webpage Read Sara’s blog post Stand-up comedy science at the Edinburgh Fringe Find out more about Surface Echoes on the ASCUS website Eczema Outreach Support This article was published on 2024-06-21
