Research Summary

I am a dermatologist that specializes in seeing patients with skin cancer, with a focus on melanoma and tumors arising in inherited cancer syndromes. I am the Director of the Melanoma Surveillance Clinic and the Dermatology Familial Cancer Syndrome Clinic. I lead a research group studying the prevention, screening, and early detection of skin cancer; melanoma outcomes; and the effect of the environment on the skin. My past work has included publications on the biology of melanocytes (the cells that give rise to melanomas), treatment resistance mechanisms in melanoma cells, and comparing the outcomes of commonly performed surgery for melanoma. The Wei research group currently assesses and develops new technologies for skin cancer detection and diagnosis, such as artificial intelligence driven image analysis, and identifying factors contributing to disparities in melanoma outcomes.  My research group also studies the impact of wildfire associated air pollution on skin health. 

Education

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI B.S., High Honors, 1983, Chemistry, Computer Science
Duke University, Durham, NC Ph.D. 1991 Immunology
Duke University, Durham, NC M.D. 1992 Medicine
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA Intern 1993 Internal Medicine
University of California, San Francisco Resident 1996 Dermatology
University of California, San Francisco Fellow 1997 Biochemistry/Biophysics

Honors & Awards

  • 1998
    Mentorship Award, Women's Dermatologic Society
  • 1999
    Research Career Development Award, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • 2005
    Young Investigator Award, NCIRE/SFVAMC
  • 2013
    Estella Medrano Award, PanAmerican Society for Pigment Cell Research
  • 2014
    Bay Area's Top Docs, Melanoma and Pigment Disorders, San Francisco Magazine
  • 2015
    Bay Area's Top Docs, Melanoma and Pigment Disorders, San Francisco Magazine
  • 2016
    Bay Area's Top Docs, Melanoma and Pigment Disorders, San Francisco Magazine
  • 2017
    Bay Area's Top Docs, Melanoma and Pigment Disorders, San Francisco Magazine
  • 2017
    Cancer Center Impact Grant
  • 2018
    Bay Area's Top Docs, Melanoma and Pigment Disorders, San Francisco Magazine

Selected Publications

  1. Young AT, Fernandez K, Pfau J, Reddy R, Cao NA, von Franque MY, Johal A, Wu BV, Wu RR, Chen JY, Fadadu RP, Vasquez JA, Tam A, Keiser MJ, Wei ML Stress testing reveals gaps in clinic readiness of image-based diagnostic artificial intelligence models.  View on PubMed
  2. Fried LJ, Tan A, Berry EG, Braun RP, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Curtis J, Ferris LK, Hartman RI, Jaimes N, Kawaoka JC, Kim CC, Lallas A, Leachman SA, Levin A, Lucey P, Marchetti MA, Marghoob AA, Miller D, Nelson KC, Prodanovic E, Seiverling EV, Swetter SM, Savory SA, Usatine RP, Wei ML, Polsky D, Stein JA, Liebman TN Dermoscopy Proficiency Expectations for US Dermatology Resident Physicians: Results of a Modified Delphi Survey of Pigmented Lesion Experts.  View on PubMed
  3. Grossman D, Okwundu N, Bartlett EK, Marchetti MA, Othus M, Coit DG, Hartman RI, Leachman SA, Berry EG, Korde L, Lee SJ, Bar-Eli M, Berwick M, Bowles T, Buchbinder EI, Burton EM, Chu EY, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Curtis JA, Daud A, Deacon DC, Ferris LK, Gershenwald JE, Grossmann KF, Hu-Lieskovan S, Hyngstrom J, Jeter JM, Judson-Torres RL, Kendra KL, Kim CC, Kirkwood JM, Lawson DH, Leming PD, Long GV, Marghoob AA, Mehnert JM, Ming ME, Nelson KC, Polsky D, Scolyer RA, Smith EA, Sondak VK, Stark MS, Stein JA, Thompson JA, Thompson JF, Venna SS, Wei ML, Swetter SM. Prognostic Gene Expression Profiling in Cutaneous Melanoma: Identifying the Knowledge Gaps and Assessing the Clinical Benefit. JAMA Dermatol. 2020 09 01; 156(9):1004-1011.  View on PubMed
  4. Cortez JL, Vasquez J, Wei ML The Impact of Demographics, Socioeconomics, and Healthcare Access on Melanoma Outcomes.  View on PubMed
  5. Young AT, Vora NB, Cortez J, Tam A, Yeniay Y, Afifi L, Yan D, Nosrati A, Wong A, Johal A, Wei ML The role of technology in melanoma screening and diagnosis.  View on PubMed
  6. Greenhaw BN, Covington KR, Kurley SJ, Yeniay Y, Cao NA, Plasseraud KM, Cook RW, Hsueh EC, Gastman BR, Wei ML Reply to Problematic methodology in a systematic review and meta-analysis of DecisionDx-Melanoma.  View on PubMed
  7. Young AT, Xiong M, Pfau J, Keiser MJ, Wei ML Artificial Intelligence in Dermatology: A Primer.  View on PubMed
  8. Greenhaw BN, Covington KR, Kurley SJ, Yeniay Y, Cao NA, Plasseraud KM, Cook RW, Hsueh EC, Gastman BR, Wei ML Molecular risk prediction in cutaneous melanoma: A meta-analysis of the 31-gene expression profile prognostic test in 1,479 patients.  View on PubMed
  9. Torres R, Lang UE, Hejna M, Shelton SJ, Joseph NM, Shain AH, Yeh I, Wei ML, Oldham MC, Bastian BC, Judson-Torres RL. MicroRNA Ratios Distinguish Melanomas from Nevi. J Invest Dermatol. 2020 01; 140(1):164-173.e7.  View on PubMed
  10. Xiong M, Pfau J, Young AT, Wei ML Artificial Intelligence in Teledermatology  View on PubMed
  11. Yu WY, Wei ML Suction Blisters.  View on PubMed
  12. Jeter JM, Bowles TL, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Swetter SM, Filipp FV, Abdel-Malek ZA, Geskin LJ, Brewer JD, Arbiser JL, Gershenwald JE, Chu EY, Kirkwood JM, Box NF, Funchain P, Fisher DE, Kendra KL, Marghoob AA, Chen SC, Ming ME, Albertini MR, Vetto JT, Margolin KA, Pagoto SL, Hay JL, Grossman D, Ellis DL, Kashani-Sabet M, Mangold AR, Markovic SN, Meyskens FL, Nelson KC, Powers JG, Robinson JK, Sahni D, Sekulic A, Sondak VK, Wei ML, Zager JS, Dellavalle RP, Thompson JA, Weinstock MA, Leachman SA, Cassidy PB Chemoprevention agents for melanoma: A path forward into phase 3 clinical trials.  View on PubMed
  13. Nosrati A, Yu WY, McGuire J, Griffin A, de Souza JR, Singh R, Linos E, Chren MM, Grimes B, Jewell NP, Wei ML Outcomes and Risk Factors in Patients with Multiple Primary Melanomas.  View on PubMed
  14. Bhattacharya A, Young A, Wong A, Stalling S, Wei M, Hadley D Precision Diagnosis Of Melanoma And Other Skin Lesions From Digital Images.  View on PubMed
  15. Bhattacharya A, Young A, Wong A, Stalling S, Wei M, Hadley D Precision diagnosis of melanoma and other skin lesions from digital images  View on PubMed
  16. Nosrati A, Berliner JG, Goel S, McGuire J, Morhenn V, de Souza JR, Yeniay Y, Singh R, Lee K, Nakamura M, Wu RR, Griffin A, Grimes B, Linos E, Chren MM, Grekin R, Wei ML. Outcomes of Melanoma In Situ Treated With Mohs Micrographic Surgery Compared With Wide Local Excision. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 05 01; 153(5):436-441.  View on PubMed
  17. Singh RK, Lee KM, Vujkovic-Cvijin I, Ucmak D, Farahnik B, Abrouk M, Nakamura M, Zhu TH, Bhutani T, Wei M, Liao W The role of IL-17 in vitiligo: A review.  View on PubMed
  18. Choudhry A, Hong J, Chong K, Jiang B, Hartman R, Chu E, Nelson K, Wei ML, Nguyen T Patients' preferences for biopsy result notification in an era of electronic messaging methods.  View on PubMed
  19. Yue L, Huang ZM, Fong S, Leong S, Jakowatz JG, Charruyer-Reinwald A, Wei M, Ghadially R Targeting ALDH1 to decrease tumorigenicity, growth and metastasis of human melanoma.  View on PubMed
  20. Nosrati A, Wei ML Sex disparities in melanoma outcomes: the role of biology.  View on PubMed

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