Andrew Kowalczyk

Andrew Kowalczyk is a Professor in the Department of Dermatology, focusing on cell adhesion mechanisms, desmosome biology, and autoimmune skin diseases like pemphigus vulgaris. His research spans molecular pathways, cellular signaling, and therapeutic targets in skin disorders.

• Active grants include studies on keratinocyte adhesion and pemphigus vulgaris mechanisms.
• Recipient of the 2024 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Research interests include desmosome structure, cadherin regulation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses in skin diseases. Recent work highlights autoantibody mechanisms and calcium pump targeting in acantholytic disorders.

Grants & Projects: Over 20 years of NIH-funded research on desmosome regulation, pemphigus pathology, and endothelial cell cadherin dynamics. Current active project (2023–2025) investigates keratinocyte adhesion in pemphigus vulgaris.