Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Amanda Nelson and her research team have 20+ years of experience investigating the sebaceous glands in acne, hair follicle and skin stem cells in hair follicle development, skin regeneration, wound healing and innate immune signaling in skin, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts.
The team takes a “Bed to Bench to Bedside” approach, working in collaboration with patients, clinicians and bioinformaticians, to understand inflammatory disease mechanisms. Diseases of interest include acne vulgaris and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Working with industry partners, studies aim to identify and test new therapies for acne and HS.
Another focus of the laboratory is understanding the relationship between the skin microbiome, host immune response and changes that occur with the development of skin diseases or the treatment of skin diseases.
Teaching and educational interests
Dr. Amanda Nelson is a faculty member in the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Graduate Program, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, and Microbiome Sciences Graduate Program. Dr. Nelson serves as the Director of the BMS curricular track and as a member of the MD/PhD program Steering Committee.
Education/Academic qualification
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2010 → 2013
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Penn State College of Medicine
2007 → 2010
PhD, Penn State College of Medicine
… → 2007
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Impact of novel, non-classical type I interferon in HS pathophysiology
Nelson, A. (PI)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
8/1/25 → 6/30/27
Project: Research project
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Adherens Junction dysfunction in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Nelson, A. (PI)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
9/21/22 → 8/31/23
Project: Research project
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Defining the role of Toll-like receptor 3 in skin homeostasis, injury and neoplasia
Nelson, A. (PI)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
4/1/16 → 3/31/21
Project: Research project
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Cytokine Regulation of Wound Induced Skin Regeneration
Nelson, A. (PI)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
12/7/12 → 12/6/13
Project: Research project
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Connectivity mapping with isotretinoin’s transcriptomic signature identifies alternative therapeutics for severe acne
Sennett, M. L., Feehan, R. P., Wallace, T. E., Gettle, S. L., Longenecker, A. L., Zaenglein, A. L., Thiboutot, D. M. & Nelson, A. M., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Functional Dynamics of Dendritic Cells in Response to Cutibacterium acnes Strains Associated with Healthy and Acne-Prone Skin
Del Vecchio, G., Nguyen, N. P. N., Ouyang, K., Odhiambo, C. O., Nelson, A. M., Deng, M., Pellegrini, M. & Agak, G. W., Sep 2025, In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 145, 9, p. 2363-2367 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Immune Activation and Glycolytic Responses to Cutibacterium acnes Cell Wall Polysaccharides
Qin, M., Evron, E., Tran, P. T., Deng, M., Nelson, A. M., Kim, J. & Agak, G. W., Dec 2025, In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 145, 12, p. 3126-3137.e8Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Pilot study of topical ruxolitinib demonstrates efficacy and blunting of heterogeneous inflammatory processes in mild hidradenitis suppurativa
Schell, S. L., Sennett, M. L., Feehan, R. P., Wallace, T. E., Meiszberg, E. C., Longenecker, A. L., Helm, M. F., Sciacca Kirby, J. & Nelson, A., May 1 2025, In: British Journal of Dermatology. 192, 5, p. 845-856 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
7 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
What's Old Is New: Apocrine Gland Destruction in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Nelson, A. M., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 145, 6, p. 1245-1247 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Prizes
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Aprile, B. (Recipient), Bezinover, D. (Recipient), Blackall, G. (Recipient), Booth, J. (Recipient), Buchkovich, N. (Recipient), Budde, A. (Recipient), Burns, A. (Recipient), Cartee, T. (Recipient), Chu, D. C. (Recipient), Cilley, R. (Recipient), Crook, T. (Recipient), Dalke, K. (Recipient), Dambro, A. (Recipient), De Jesus, S. (Recipient), Demetriou, T. (Recipient), DeWaters, A. (Recipient), Duca, N. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), Frauenhoffer, E. (Recipient), Garner, M. (Recipient), Glass, K. (Recipient), Goyal, N. (Recipient), Grine, K. (Recipient), Habib, S. (Recipient), Irby, R. (Recipient), Jones, E. (Recipient), June, R. (Recipient), Karamchandani, K. (Recipient), Karpa, K. (Recipient), Kasmire, K. (Recipient), Katzman, M. (Recipient), Kavanagh, R. (Recipient), Kees-Folts, D. (Recipient), Kesterson, J. (Recipient), Sciacca Kirby, J. (Recipient), Kresch, M. (Recipient), Lankford, E. (Recipient), McDonald, A. (Recipient), Miller, R. (Recipient), Moldovan, G.-L. (Recipient), Myler, C. (Recipient), Nelson, A. (Recipient), Neutze, J. (Recipient), Newell, J. (Recipient), Norbury, C. (Recipient), O'Hara, C. (Recipient), Palmer, T. (Recipient), Pantanelli, S. (Recipient), Pichardo-Lowden, A. (Recipient), Po, W. (Recipient), Radico, J. (Recipient), Radtka, J. (Recipient), Razeghi, S. (Recipient), Rodgers, R. (Recipient), Romanoski, N. (Recipient), Samson, T. (Recipient), Shantz, L. (Recipient), Smith, B. (Recipient), Stephens, M. (Recipient) & Wang, M. (Recipient), 2019
Prize