ª 2017 The Authors. Publishe

EDITORIAL

European Society for DermatologicalResearch (ESDR): Shifting Scope andExpanding Boundaries, PromotingCutaneous Biology Research acrossEurope and beyond

or nearly 50 years, the European Societyfor Dermatological Research (ESDR) has

F made great efforts in supporting its mem-

bers to advance research in cutaneous biologyand related subjects, thereby improving ourability to maintain or restore normal structureand function of skin, i.e. skin health.

Until World War II, North American derma-tologists often depended on training in Euro-pean dermatology departments (Burgdorf andBickers, 2013). American researchers with Eu-ropean training were among those who foundedthe Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID)in the 1930s. In the meantime, it had becomecommon for European investigators to seekadditional research training in the United Statesand other countries. European dermatologistswith research training abroad founded theESDR. A group of three, Michel Prunieras(France), Sam Shuster (UK) and Klaus Wolff(Austria) met in the 1960s to discuss starting aforum for scientific exchange related to derma-tology in Europe.

Klaus Wolff summarizes how the SID was arole model: “The foundation of the SID markedan attempt to break the chains of puremorphology that had already started to stifledermatology. It had ventured into the realm ofexperimentation and kindled interest in a field,which was then terra incognita and is nowcalled cutaneous biology”1. The ESDR wasfounded to fill a gap in existing dermatologymeetings in Europe, which at the time were“clinical and driven by status and seniority ewhere age of brain counted more than itscontent“2. In contrast, the ESDR, according toSam Shuster, was meant to form a “science basethat would encourage youth and its ideas”3.Being aware of its roots, the ESDR board

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2017) 137, 1817e1819.doi:10.1016/j.jid.2017.07.821

1 Klaus Wolff, personal communication2 Sam Shuster, personal communication3 Sam Shuster, personal communication

d by Elsevier, Inc. on behalf of the Society for Investigative Derm

recently re-addressed and newly outlined itsvision and values (Fig. 1).

The ESDR is inclusive in that it is open toanyone involved in research on skin, hair, nailsand sexually transmitted diseases, be it academicinvestigators (clinicians and/or basic scientists),researchers from industry or members of patientorganizations. Important relationships betweenthese groups have been fostered by the ESDR, forexample through interactions in drug discoveryand translational medicine initiatives, andthrough entrepreneurial and clinically orientedsymposia (Xu et al., 2016). The ESDR meetinghas also been hosting an Eastern Europeanresearch symposium for several years with thepurpose of embracing and supporting re-searchers from countries with less expenditureon research and development. An early goal ofthe ESDR was to attract investigators from outsidedermatology. In fact, the first ESDR meetingswere linked to a more general biomedicalresearch conference, a practice that has not beenmaintained. Nevertheless, many guest speakersare still selected from outside dermatology.Accordingly, research presented at ESDR meet-ings comes from diverse interests, not onlydermatology, because inclusivity creates oppor-tunities and opens new avenues for discovery. AsMarion Sulzberger, one of the founders of theSID and first editor of this Journal, stated, thereare many “inspirations and stimuli whichdermatology offers for fundamental in-vestigations” (Sulzberger, 1951). Cutaneousbiology research today is often basic, but it canbe translational and ever more dependent on amulti-disciplinary team approach (Uitto andRodeck, 2012).

An important goal for the ESDR is scientificexcellence. Initially, the review system for ESDRannual meetings was extremely strict and “therewas an iron rule that only material could bepresented that had never been published orpresented before” 4. Thus, excellence was linked

4 Klaus Wolff, personal communication

atology. www.jidonline.org 1817

Figure 1. Vision and Values of the European Society of DermatologicalResearch (ESDR) in 2017.

EDITORIAL

1818

with innovation by ensuring that data presented at the ESDRwere hot off the bench. Currently, activities of the ESDR topromote discovery and innovation are not limited to orga-nizing meetings. For example, the ESDR is developing pro-grams and alliances that facilitate and accelerate innovationin dermatology research (Xu et al., 2016) by strongly linkingthe talent and scientific know-how of academic dermatologywith the translational and financial capabilities of industry(Moy and Antunes, 2013). The ESDR is forming relationshipswith industry, scientific foundations and philanthropy toenable cutting edge scientific investigations.

It is indispensable for scientific progress that peoplecommunicate and share knowledge and that new in-vestigators are recruited and mentored (Hartman et al., 2016).Collegiality awards are provided to young investigators tocombine attendance of an ESDR, Japanese Society forInvestigative Dermatology (JSID) or SID annual meeting witha visit to an academic dermatology department in therespective region (McGrath, 2011, Piguet et al., 2011). Incollaboration with the European Academy of Dermatologyand Venereology (EADV), the EADV-ESDR summer researchcourses have been organized since 2010 to introduce early

Figure 2. The European Society of Dermatological Research (ESDR) was legally eplace from April 20-21, 1971 in Nordwijk-Aan-Zee near Amsterdam. The 50th ann

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2017), Volume 137

career members to dermatologic research. The ESDR Acad-emy for Future Leaders in Dermatology (FLA) is directed atfostering young researchers by bringing together establishedleaders in their field with the brightest young scientists, withan emphasis on learning about career paths, experiencingpersonal interactions and networking (Enk et al., 2012). Anetwork of ESDR future leaders alumni is forming since theinceptions of the FLA in 2011, which in turn is able to providementoring to the next generation of outstanding researchers.As a further step, the ESDR is now planning to offer formalteaching courses for mentors. An ongoing project intends torenew the ESDR’s organizational structure and to create anESDR charter. This will transform the ESDR from a top-downorganization to one that empowers its member base to takeactive roles in broadening the Society’s scope.

With the advent of unprecedented telecommunicationscapabilities, the possibilities for scientific exchange andprogress are evolving rapidly. Thus, the ESDR has identified aneed for leading the way in taking full advantage of tele-communication services. Highlighting original work by usingelectronic poster walks, social media, mobile messaging andonline platforms will only be the beginning. The Societystrives to be an early adopter of new technology forcommunicating scientific and educational materials.

By re-addressing its vision and values and by taking thestrategic directions outlined above, the ESDR is well preparedto celebrate its upcoming 50th anniversary in 2020 in theNetherlands where the ESDR was established (Fig. 2).

Naturally, being based in Europe, the ESDR is international.It was founded when research in dermatology was mostlypresented and discussed using the local language on aregional/national basis. The ESDR, from its inception, had to

stablished in Amsterdam on April 26, 1970. The 1st meeting of the ESDR tookiversary of the ESDR will take place in Amsterdam from September 2-5, 2020.

EDITORIAL

transverse national boundaries, act as a supra-national orga-nization and use a common language. The diversity of Europeprovides an enriching and stimulating basis for scientificcross-fertilization.

The trend of internationalization has resulted in the SID,JSID and ESDR sharing their visions and jointly organizingquinquennial meetings since the 1980s, known currently asInternational Investigative Dermatology (IID) meetings(Holubar, 1990). More recently, the newly founded Inter-national Societies for Investigative Dermatology (ISID) hasbegun to plan its first global meeting in 2023. These meet-ings increasingly will include additional scientific societiesholding free communications-driven research meetingsabout cutaneous biology (Amagai et al., 2014). Thus, thetraditional sister societies SID, JSID and ESDR are expandingto form a worldwide forum dedicated to research in cuta-neous biology and related subjects. With all the competi-tiveness of science, forming the ISID will provide a senseof collegiality within the global dermatology researchcommunity.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe authors state no conflict of interest.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTWe thank Thomas Florestan for helpful suggestions and for providing imagesfor Figure 2.

Matthias Schmuth1,*, Michel Gilliet1, Christopher E.M. Griffiths1

and Jonathan N. Barker11European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR)

*Correspondence: Matthias Schmuth, Dermatology, Medical UniversityInnsbruck, Anichstr 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. E-mail:matthias.schmuth@i-med.ac.at

REFERENCES

Amagai M, Enk A, Hall RP. The International Societies for InvestigativeDermatology: the realization of a vision for unity and collaboration in theadvancement of investigative dermatology and cutaneous biology. J InvestDermatol 2014;134:1181e3.

Burgdorf WH, Bickers DR. Dermatologic relationships between the UnitedStates and German-speaking countries. Part Iebefore 1933. JAMA Dermatol2013;149:966e9.

Enk A, Ingram JR, Piguet V. Future leaders: mentor investment in young in-vestigators. J Invest Dermatol 2012;132:1943e4.

Hartman RI, Storer M, Kimball AB. Dermatology’s researchers of the future:our workforce pipeline and richest opportunities. J Invest Dermatol2016;136:345e8.

Holubar K. A tribute to the three major societies of investigative dermatologyon the occasion of their first joint meeting. J Invest Dermatol 1990;94:3e5.

McGrath JA. Collegiality awards: an international platform for young investi-gator opportunities. J Invest Dermatol 2011;131:1177.

Moy R, Antunes HC. Preserving dermatology. J Invest Dermatol 2013;133:2113e5.

Piguet V, Tokura Y, Green K. Systematic mentoring on three continents.J Invest Dermatol 2011;131:549e50.

Sulzberger MB. Presidential address: investigative dermatology; remarks onsources of ideas, design of experiments, and communication of results.J Invest Dermatol 1951;17:187e203.

Uitto J, Rodeck U. Integration of investigative dermatology into the globalbiomedical research enterprise: past, present, and future. J Invest Dermatol2012;132:1029e32.

Xu S, Allred J, Kirsch B, Raff A, Anderson RR, Ju W. Training the next gen-eration of innovators in dermatology. J Invest Dermatol 2016;136:2113e5.

www.jidonline.org 1819