Michal Kidacki

Michal Kidacki, MD, PhD is an Instructor in the Department of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. His academic appointments include primary affiliation with Dermatology and collaboration with the Chen Lab. Dr. Kidacki's research focuses on the intersection of dermatology, immunology, and molecular biology, with particular emphasis on skin inflammation, cancer immunology, and advanced spatial transcriptomics techniques.

Dr. Kidacki's educational background includes:

• BA in Biology from Rutgers University (2009)
• AA in Biology from Union County College (2007)
• MD and PhD from Penn State College of Medicine
• Transitional Year at Mercy Catholic Medical Center (2020)
• Board Certified in Dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology (2023)

Dr. Kidacki's research interests center around hair follicle biology and the immune system in the context of skin diseases. His work spans multiple areas including autoimmune skin disorders like discoid lupus erythematosus and lichen planus, inflammatory conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa, and various skin cancers including melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. A significant portion of his recent work utilizes spatial transcriptomics to understand the precise cellular and molecular organization within skin lesions, providing unprecedented insights into disease mechanisms. His research also explores immune checkpoint molecules like VISTA (PD-1H) and their role in skin cancer progression and immune evasion.

Dr. Kidacki's scientific contributions have been recognized with several awards including the Transitional Year Excellence Award from Mercy Catholic Medical Center (2020), Travel Grants from the Symposium on Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances (2018), and multiple Daniel Notterman Awards from Penn State University (2015, 2016).

As a collaborative researcher, Dr. Kidacki works closely with several prominent investigators including Matthew Vesely, Christina Cho, Francesc Lopez-Giraldez, Lieping Chen, and Gavitt Woodard. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications, particularly in developing better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for challenging dermatological conditions.