#USA #Orlando #Skin of Color Society #Crystal Aguh #Dermatology Foundation

Dr. Crystal Aguh Honored with 2025 Dermatology Foundation Award

In a notable recognition of her contributions to dermatology, Dr. Crystal U. Aguh, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Dermatology Foundation-Skin of Color Society Collaborative Mid-Career Award. Sponsored by Sanofi and Regeneron, this award highlights Dr. Aguh's impactful research surrounding cicatricial alopecia, particularly Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), a condition affecting many individuals with darker skin tones.

Significance of the Award

The Dermatology Foundation (DF) and the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) selected Dr. Aguh for this honor due to her outstanding contributions to understanding skin conditions that disproportionately affect minority populations. Her research delves into the transcriptomic impacts of metabolic interventions on CCCA, promising to advance our understanding of this troubling condition and opening the door for improved treatment options. Dr. Aguh's dedication to exploring dermatological concerns affecting underserved communities makes her an ideal recipient of this significant accolade.

During the award presentation, held amidst the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Aguh expressed her gratitude, stating, "I am so grateful to the Skin of Color Society and the Dermatology Foundation for this award. This award will support groundbreaking work to help so many patients suffering from CCCA, a disease which is both emotionally and physically scarring." Her commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals impacted by such conditions is evident in her extensive work, which includes authoring four books on hair loss and numerous peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Aguh's Research Focus

Dr. Aguh's research primarily targets skin conditions that affect racial and ethnic minorities, with an emphasis on cicatricial alopecia. With numerous NIH grants and awards under her belt, she has established herself as a leader in her field. Her work not only contributes to academic understanding but also has a significant real-world impact on the lives of patients who struggle with these conditions. As the Director of the Ethnic Skin Program at Johns Hopkins, her leadership fosters a new generation of scholars dedicated to advancing care for patients with skin of color.

The award is particularly competitive, aiming to identify exceptional mid-career researchers who have shown excellence in basic, clinical, or translational science. Dr. Aguh’s proposal stood out in a sea of applicants, illustrating the quality of research ongoing in the realm of dermatology focused on underserved populations.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, the Dermatology Foundation and Skin of Color Society are committed to supporting research that enhances understanding and treatment of dermatological issues faced by underrepresented groups. Applications for the next year’s Mid-Career Award cycle will commence in mid-September 2025, encouraging further innovation and exploration in the field.

As we celebrate Dr. Aguh's achievements, the broader dermatological community can anticipate advancements in treatment strategies stemming from her research. The insights gained will likely lead to enhanced care protocols and educational resources tailored for skin conditions that predominantly affect individuals of color, thus promoting health equity across the board.

For more details about the prestigious awards and future opportunities in dermatologic research, folks are encouraged to explore the Dermatology Foundation's and Skin of Color Society's respective websites.