James Tilford Elder MD PhD

Kirk D. Wuepper Professor of Molecular Genetic Dermatology; Physician, Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital

1500 E Medical Center Dr1ST floor Taubman CTR Recp BAnn Arbor, MI 48109
Phone+1 734-936-4054

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Summary

I am a physician-scientist-educator in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Michigan. I have a joint appointment at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital. My clinical practice mainly involves medical Dermatology, with a focus on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. My research laboratory uses genetics, immunology, and cell biology to learn more about the pathogenesis of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I’m particularly interested in the nature of innate and acquired immune responses in psoriasis, and how the immune system activates the epidermal hyperproliferative response in psoriasis. I also have a long-standing in keratinocyte biology, particularly regarding autocrine signaling through the EGF receptor. Currently, these interests extend to the role of EGF receptor ligands in carcinomas of epithelial origin, including keratinocyte carcinomas, breast cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Education & Training

University of MichiganResidency, Dermatology, 1986 - 1988
University of WashingtonResidency, Dermatology, 1983 - 1986
University of WashingtonInternship, Internal Medicine, 1982 - 1983
The Graduate School of Yale UniversityPh.D., Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, 1974 - 1982
Yale School of MedicineClass of 1981

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Certifications & Licensure

MI State Medical License 1987 - 2028
American Board of Dermatology Dermatology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2012-2013
League of Research Excellence University of Michigan, 2011
Clinical & Health Services Research Award University of Michigan, 2010

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Multicytokine-based transcriptome-wide association study for 7 inflammatory skin disorders identifies candidate causal genes in keratinocytes.
Haihan Zhang, Matthew T Patrick, Mrinal K Sarkar, Rachael Bogle, Qinmengge Li
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2026-08-01
Genetic liability to psoriasis predicts severe disease outcomes.
Jake R Saklatvala, Samuel Lessard, Maris Teder-Laving, Laurent F Thomas, Ravi Ramessur
Genome Medicine. 2025-12-17
Loopsim: enrichment analysis of chromosome conformation capture with fast empirical distribution simulation.
Gideon Shaked, Haihan Zhang, Zhaolin Zhang, Jiayu Zhou, Johann E Gudjonsson
NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics. 2025-09-01

Journal Articles

Erlotinib-induced skin inflammation is IL-1 mediated in KC-Tie2 mice and human skin organ culture
Ward NL, Bhagathavula N, Johnston A, Dawes SM, Fu W, Lambert S, Gudjonsson JE, Varani J, Elder JT, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 10/1/2014
Comparison of molecular signatures from multiple skin diseases identifies mechanisms of immunopathogenesis
Inkeles MS, Scumpia PO, Swindell WR, Lopez D, Teles RMB, Graeber TG, Elder JT, Modlin RL, Pellegrini M, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 9/18/2014
Fine mapping of eight psoriasis susceptibility loci
Das S, Stuart PE, Ding J, Tejasvi T, Li Y, Tsoi LC, Chandran V, Fischer J, Helms C, Callis Duffin K, Voorhees JJ, Bowcock, AM, Krueger GG, Lathrop GM, Nair RP, Rahman ..., European Journal of Human Genetics, 9/3/2014

Books/Book Chapters

Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics
Chapter: Chapter 150: Psoriaisis.
Gudjonsson JE, Elder JTEdition 6th,2013
Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine
Chapter: Psoriasis.
Page 169 - 193Gudjonsson J, Elder JTEditors: Wolff K, Goldsmith LE, Katz S, Gilchrest B, Paller A, Lefell D.Mc Graw-Hill, New York, NYEdition 7th,2008
Clinics in Dermatology
Chapter: Psoriasis: Epidemiology.
Page 535 - 546Gudjonsson JE, Elder JTElsevier, New York, NY2007

Abstracts/Posters

Genome-wide serum miRNA expression profiles identify serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers for human psoriatic arthritis.
Han L, Weiland M, Yin C, Lu C, Nair RP, Zhou L, Lim HW, Elder JT, Mi Q, J Invest Dermatol, 1/1/2014
Genome wide association study of psoriasis in India.
Nair, RP, Tsoi LC, Ghosh M, Kabra M, Tejasvi T, Stuart PE, Zawistowski MS, Voorhees JJ, Abecasis GR, Sharma VK, Elder JT, J Invest Dermatol, 1/1/2014
Microanatomy of psoriasis: Sebaceous gland atrophy contributes to downregulation of lipid metabolism genes.
Rittie L, Tejasvi T, Tsoi LC, Swindell WR, Nair RP, Elder JT, J Invest Dermatol, 1/1/2014

Lectures

Genetics of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: What's at the End of the Rainbow?
Detroit, MI - 10/2/2014
Genetics of Skin Disease: From EGF Receptors to Psoriasis and Back
Valdecilla Hospital, Santander, Spain - 9/23/2014
Omics: From Genomics to Skinomics
Paris, France - 9/20/2014

Press Mentions

Refinement of Genetic Signals for Psoriasis by Combining European-Origin and South Asian PopulationsDecember 1st, 2021
Research Techniques Made Simple: Itch Measurement in Clinical TrialsJuly 19th, 2018
What Causes Psoriasis (And How to Stop It Naturally)June 7th, 2017

Grant Support

Training Grant in Cell and Molecular DermatologyUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR1977–2030
Genetic and Genomic Dissection of Psoriatic ArthritisUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR2012–2025
Identification Of Psoriatic Arthritis GenesNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2009–2011
Combined Analysis Of Gene Expression And DNA Variation In PsoriasisNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases2007–2011
Linkage Analysis Of Familial PsoriasisNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1994–2011