School of Medicine

Chair of Dermatology

At the Chair of Dermatology, we carry out primarily patient-centred and clinical research projects, as well as epidemiological and health care research. Our research focuses on autoimmune diseases such as bullous autoimmune dermatoses and collagenoses, UV-induced dermatoses, food and drug allergies, mastocytosis, as well as issues relating to infectious diseases.

At the Centre for Dermatology, Allergology and Dermatological Surgery, research projects are carried out by both Prof. Dr Hofmann and Senior Consultant PD Dr Galina Balakirski, and PhD theses are supervised within this framework.

Current research projects focus on allergies to edible insects, which are becoming increasingly relevant as a protein-rich food source due to climate change. Furthermore, we aim to characterise the heterogeneous condition of systemic mastocytosis in greater detail. We are also investigating the link between atopic dermatitis and bacterial infections caused by particularly virulent strains of Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the relevance of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in dermatological surgery.

The Chair of Dermatology is integrated into the clinical phase of the model medical degree programme at Witten/Herdecke University. In the 8th semester, students receive structured teaching through lectures on the key topics in dermatology, allergology and sexually transmitted diseases. Students can gain practical experience by submitting an application to us for an AGV placement, a clinical track, a clinical clerkship or an elective tertial during their practical year. We also aim to teach students how to interact empathetically with patients suffering from inflammatory skin conditions, skin tumours or allergies – conditions that are often perceived as stigmatising by those affected. Furthermore, in our placements we encourage students to learn and practise examination techniques such as taking biopsies and developing differential diagnostic reasoning.