From Proteomics to Real-World Clinical Practice: Novel Studies in Psoriatic Disease
Principal Investigator: Ravi Ramessur, Ph.D.
Institution: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Grant Mechanism: Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowship
Funding Amount: $50,000
Project Start Date: July 1, 2025
Project End Date: June 30, 2026
Status: Active
Keywords: Comorbidity, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Clinical Research, Translational Research, Population Research, Biomarkers, CVD, Epidemiology, Genetics
Project Summary:
Psoriasis is a common skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide, causing not only visible skin symptoms but also serious health problems such as psoriatic arthritis and heart disease. These complications can significantly reduce quality of life and life expectancy. This project aims to change that by finding better ways to predict, prevent, and treat psoriatic disease. Using cutting-edge research tools, we will:
- Identify early warning signs of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by studying proteins and genes in the blood.
- Understand treatment effects on heart health by looking at how different psoriasis therapies influence fat around the heart, which is linked to cardiovascular risk.
- Improve light therapy outcomes by learning what factors help patients stick with treatment and achieve clearer skin.
The ultimate goal is to develop personalized strategies that give patients the right treatment at the right time, reduce complications, and improve everyday life for people living with psoriasis.
How will your project help improve the lives of the 125 million affected by psoriatic disease?
This project directly addresses three of the biggest challenges faced by the 125 million people worldwide living with psoriatic disease: predicting who is at risk, preventing serious complications, and improving treatment outcomes.
- Better prediction and prevention – By combining protein and genetic data, we aim to identify individuals at highest risk of developing psoriasis or progressing to psoriatic arthritis. This will enable earlier diagnosis, targeted prevention, and timely intervention before irreversible joint damage occurs.
- Protecting heart health – Psoriasis is strongly linked with cardiovascular disease. By studying how different treatments affect fat around the heart, our work will help identify therapies that not only clear the skin but also reduce life-threatening cardiometabolic complications.
- Improving treatment success – Phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment, but many patients struggle with access or adherence. By understanding the factors that predict who does best with home- or office-based light therapy, we can tailor care, reduce treatment burden, and improve quality of life.
Together, these advances will move the field towards personalised, whole-person care- helping people with psoriatic disease live longer, healthier lives with fewer complications and less impact on their day-to-day wellbeing.
Why is psoriatic disease research important to you, personally? What role will this award play in your research efforts or career development?
Psoriatic disease research is deeply important to me because I see first-hand how profoundly it impacts the lives of my patients. Psoriasis is not only a visible skin condition; it carries with it pain, stigma, joint disease, and serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease. Many of my patients express frustration that even when their skin improves, their broader health concerns often remain unaddressed. This has motivated me to dedicate my career to advancing a more holistic understanding of psoriatic disease, from its molecular drivers to its systemic complications.
This award from the National Psoriasis Foundation represents a pivotal step in my journey as a physician-scientist. It will allow me to integrate cutting-edge approaches such as proteomics, genetics, and imaging with real-world clinical data to answer questions that matter directly to patients. Through this fellowship, I will gain the skills, collaborations, and research outputs necessary to establish myself as an independent investigator in psoriatic disease. Most importantly, it will provide the platform to generate knowledge that can lead to earlier diagnosis, better treatment choices, and improved long-term outcomes for the millions of people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis worldwide.
Researcher Profile:
Dr Ravi Ramessur, BMBCh (Oxford), MA (Cambridge), MRCP (UK), is a Consultant Dermatologist and Visiting Lecturer at King’s College London. He specialises in the management of severe psoriasis and has a strong research focus on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying psoriatic disease and its comorbidities.
Dr Ramessur completed his PhD at King’s College London, where he investigated biomarkers of psoriasis progression and treatment response, collaborating with international consortia such as BIOMAP and the International Psoriasis Council. His work has been published in leading journals including JAMA Cardiology and the British Journal of Dermatology.
In addition to his clinical and academic roles, Dr Ramessur serves on several national committees, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Committee, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) Audit Committee, and the BAD Therapeutics and Guidelines Committee. He has been invited to present his research at major international conferences such as the American Academy of Dermatology, the International Society of Investigative Dermatology, and the European Society for Dermatological Research.
Dr Ramessur’s career goal is to advance personalised medicine for people living with psoriasis by integrating translational research, clinical trial evidence, and epidemiology to improve long-term outcomes and reduce health disparities.