Peter Elias MD

Peter M. Elias, M.D. is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California San Francisco, and a Staff Physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco. He received his medical degree from the University of California San Francisco and trained in dermatology at Harvard University. Dr. Elias has authored or co-authored over 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles and innumerable review articles; and he has edited or co-authored three books on the subject of the skin barrier in health and disease. He is an invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings; and has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Dr. Elias was elected to memberships in the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Association of Professors. He is the recipient of many honors, including the William Montagna and the Kligman-Frost Awards from the Society of Investigative Dermatology.

Dr. Elias has devoted his research program to elucidating multiple aspects of epidermal biology, focusing primarily on the skin’s permeability barrier, as well as its other protective functions. All of his research ultimately is aimed at improving the care of dermatology patients through a better understanding of disease-causing mechanisms and through the development of novel therapies, with improved safety profiles, aimed at counteracting pathological processes.