Leonard Milstone

Dr. Milstone has made important contributions to understanding epidermal growth and differentiation, including discovery of keratins 4 and 13 and the unique proteoglycan, Epican. He first described an assay that is now a widely used blood test for tuberculosis, and led the group that first demonstrated gene editing in the epidermis. He has a deep interest in ichthyosis and other rare inherited disorders of keratinization, and for 28 years was chair of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types. In systematically following those patients over 40 years, he and his colleagues have discovered the genetic causes of several of these rare diseases, and is a leader in understanding the genetics, care and counseling of these patients and their families. He has participated in many early phase trials of new treatments for disorders of keratinization, and is a frequent consultant to the pharmaceutical industry.