At the intersection of biopharma and academia
The latest advancements in dermatologic research and technology will be revealed during the Future of Dermatology Symposium.

F001 – Future of Dermatology Symposium: The New Skin Frontier: Innovation at the Intersection of Biopharma and Academia
1–5 p.m. | Thursday, July 10
Grand Hall J
Problem-based innovation in dermatology has arrived, and dermatologists are not waiting for others to solve the health care challenges they are facing. Rather, as entrepreneurs and visionaries, they are actively identifying unmet needs in clinical care and seeking solutions to serve their patients.
The 2025 AAD Innovation Academy will spotlight the concept of problem-based innovation and the process of pursuing resolutions through commercialization during the Thursday session, F001 – Future of Dermatology Symposium: The New Skin Frontier: Innovation at the Intersection of Biopharma and Academia. Lilit Garibyan, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is among the co-directors who organized this perspective on prospects of the specialty.
“The future of dermatology lies in collaboration, where academia meets industry, where clinicians identify unmet clinical needs and partner with researchers and engineers, who have the tools and expertise to develop and test new solutions, and where industry plays a vital role in supporting and commercializing innovations born in academia,” Dr. Garibyan said.
Lilit Garibyan, MD, PhD, FAAD
This year’s symposium will focus on the dynamic intersection of biopharma and academia, featuring the latest advancements in dermatologic research and technology. Discussions include the potential of new therapies, emerging trends, and insights into how collaboration between industry and academia is paving the way for the next generation of dermatologic treatments. Panelists will review a range of selected abstracts representing therapeutics, cosmetics, molecular technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), telemedicine, and mobile and imaging technologies.
“We’re seeing dermatology leap from being a specialty focused solely on the skin to one that touches the entire body,” Dr. Garibyan said. “As clinicians, we witness the unmet needs in health care every day. The status quo is no longer enough. Innovation, driven by clinical insight and supported by industry, is the only path forward. Together, we share a responsibility to bring bold, evidence-based solutions to our patients.”
In addition to Dr. Garibyan, panelists include Kenneth B. Gordon, MD, FAAD; Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, FAAD; Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD, FAAD; Sandy Sharon Tsao, MD, FAAD; and Bobby Y. Reddy, MD, FAAD.