About Us
Core Team Leadership
Benjamin Chong, M.D., M.S.C.S.
Director, UTSW Skin Biorepository Core
Co-Director, UTSW Skin Biorepository Core
Co-Director, UTSW Skin Biorepository Core
Matthew Mikhail
Lab Manager of UTSW Skin Biorepository Core
The UT Southwestern Skin Biorepository Core was established to accelerate dermatologic research by providing investigators with streamlined access to high-quality skin and blood biospecimens. Led by Director Dr. Benjamin Chong and Co-Directors Dr. Benjamin Nanes and Dr. Joseph Merola, the Core serves as a centralized resource dedicated to supporting research across a broad spectrum of skin diseases and related conditions.
Access to human biospecimens is often one of the most challenging and time-consuming aspects of translational and clinical research. Identifying appropriate patient populations, navigating regulatory requirements, coordinating specimen collection, and ensuring proper processing and storage can create significant barriers for investigators. The Skin Biorepository Core was developed to help overcome these challenges by providing the infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory framework necessary to facilitate biospecimen acquisition and management.
Through established collaborations with the UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Parkland Health & Hospital System, the Core maintains access to diverse, well-annotated skin and blood specimens from individuals with and without dermatologic disease. Supported by approved IRB protocols and standardized operating procedures, the Core can obtain specimens on behalf of principal investigators, reducing administrative burden and accelerating research timelines.
In addition to specimen procurement, the Core provides comprehensive support for biospecimen processing, storage, annotation, and distribution. By serving as a centralized repository and research partner, the Skin Biorepository Core enables investigators to focus on scientific discovery while ensuring access to high-quality specimens essential for basic, translational, and clinical research.
Our mission is to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of skin disease by connecting investigators with the biospecimen resources needed to drive meaningful scientific discovery and improve patient care.