Roles
- Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery
- Research Director, Hidradenitis Center
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Biography
Dr. Irena Pastar received doctoral degree in molecular microbiology at the University of Belgrade, followed by postdoctoral trainings at The Rockefeller University and Cornell University Weill Medical College, Hospital for Special Surgery. She was an Assistant Professor at the New York University School of Medicine before joining the University of Miami faculty in 2011. Dr. Pastar’s research focuses on molecular mechanisms of wound healing, cutaneous response to wound microbiome, mechanism of novel antimicrobial therapies and molecular pathology of chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers. Dr. Pastar is leading multiple transnational projects on skin and wound infections funded by National Institute of Health, US Department of Defense and Industry. -
Education & Training
Education
Post Graduate Training
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Honors & Awards
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Teaching Interests
I have been fortunate to teach, mentor and supervise more than forty outstanding undergraduate, graduate and medical students, dermatology residents, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty in the laboratory setting. My mentees continued their careers at institutions such as NIH, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania and Albert Einstein University. I am looking forward to continue inspiring a new generation of scientists, physicians and physician-scientists in the filed of cutaneous biology, microbiology, and immunology. I am also involved in teaching Master program in Skin Biology and Dermatological Sciences as a course director “Frontiers in Science”, while also teaching “Skin Biology and Pathophysiology” and “Microbiology & Immunology of the Skin”. -
Research Interests
Pastar’s lab within the Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine Research Program focuses on molecular mechanisms of skin and wound infections and host-pathogen interaction in the context of cutaneous wound healing. Dr Pastar's team recently discovered a novel mechanism by which pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus evade cutaneous defense system to reside intracellularly in epidermal keratinocytes, causing pyroptosis and inhibiting healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Ongoing projects are focused on the mechanisms of the intracellular life cycle of S. aureus in skin cells and its role in chronic cutaneous diseases. In addition, we study mechanisms that commensal microorganisms utilize to activate host defense mechanism and protect from S. aureus intracellular invasion. Pastar’s lab has also developed and utilized various skin infection models to evaluate the effectiveness of and mechanisms of action of novel topical antimicrobials, including probiotics and postbiotics.
The long-term goal of Dr Pastar’s research is to enable the development of novel treatments by leveraging understanding of host-pathogen interactions in patients suffering from cutaneous diseases characterized by microbial dysbiosis, including chronic wounds and hidradenitis suppurativa. -
Publications
Disclaimer: Information presented in this section has been consolidated using AI and machine learning technologies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies, use this link to inform our data team. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us improve the quality of our content.Copyrights & Patents
Professional Activities
Articles & News
Hope for Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
A Globally Renowned Wound Healing Program
Dermatology Research Team Investigating the Most Common Disease You’ve Never Heard About
Disclaimer:
Information presented in this section has been consolidated using AI and machine learning technologies. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. If you identify any inaccuracies, use this link to inform our data team. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us improve the quality of our content.