Sergei A. Grando, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci., is Professor of Dermatology. He graduated in 1980 from Kiev Medical Institute, Ukraine, completed residency in Dermatology and Venereology at Kiev Postgraduate Institute for Physicians and then became a faculty member. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1984 for studies of atopic dermatitis and then, in 1989, the Doctor of Science in medicine (D.Sci.) for studies of pemphigus and pemphigoid. From 1991 to 1996 he was on faculty at University of Minnesota, from 1996 to 2007 at University of California Davis, and then joined Department of Dermatology of UC Irvine. He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Grando has published more than 180 articles or monographs, obtained several research grants from National Institutes of Health, and many other granting agencies. He is a member of the Medical Advisory Board of International Pemphigus Foundation and other international and national professional societies and advisory groups.

Dr. Grando’s research is focused on the studies of the basic biology of the skin, specifically the skin cell pharmacology and mechanisms of autoimmune blistering disease. He is a pioneer in the studies of the cholinergic system of the skin. He has previously demonstrated that keratinocytes, melanocytes and fibroblasts utilize acetylcholine as an autocrine and paracrine cytotransmitter to produce a plethora of biological effects. His previous contributions include the generation of antibodies specific for different acetylcholine receptors as well as molecular cloning of a number of newly discovered receptors. Many researchers have benefited from antibodies for different acetylcholine receptor types as well as cDNA clones of newly discovered receptors that his lab generated.

Previously, Dr. Grando utilized pemphigus patients' IgGs as a probe to identify the pathophysiologically relevant target antigens in the autoimmune blistering disease pemphigus. He discovered novel mechanisms of targeting cell death and survival and therapeutic action of intravenous IgG (IVIg) in pemphigus. Dr. Grando's work in autoimmune pemphigus and paraneoplastic pemphigus has led to the development of non-steroidal therapy for pemphigus and other diseases associated with blistering. He has conducted an IRB-approved clinical trial using a well-tolerated acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Mestinon, in the treatment of pemphigus patients. The results of his work have altered the way physicians throughout the world understand the mechanisms of pemphigus, and have led directly to the development of new treatment of pemphigus with cholinergic agonist, such as topical application of pilocarpine.

Link to Dr. Grando's Bio:  http://www.dermatology.uci.edu/Grando-Bio+Res%20Intrst.pdf