The 13th PeDRA Annual Conference was held October 9-11, 2025, in Minneapolis, MN. The theme was Building Consensus to Advance Pediatric Dermatology Research and attendees enjoyed our annual activities, including the Early Investigators Reception, NextGen Research Forum, and breakout sessions for Focused Study Groups to discuss research projects. Additionally, there were numerous opportunities to engage with patients, advocacy organizations, and industry representatives, as well as networking events like the reception with karaoke!

Location

The 2025 PeDRA Annual Conference took place at The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown, located at 35 S 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

Travel Scholarships

PeDRA was proud to offer Travel Scholarships to help offset the cost of travel for eligible PeDRA Early Investigators (Active Members less than 7-years post training), PeDRA Trainee Members, and PeDRA Community Members. Scholarships were awarded following an application and competitive review process, depending on availability of funds and the merit of applications received.

Early Investigator Reception—Open Mic Night*

• Thursday, October 9, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
• Featured Guests: Colleen Cotton, MD and Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD

Attendees stepped into the spotlight at our Early Investigator Open Mic Night—where research mets real talk! This lively, informal evening was all about amplifying the voices of early-career investigators. They brought their curiosity, questions, and stories as young researchers took the mic to share quick insights, personal journeys, surprising data moments, or even research-inspired creativity. Whether they were presenting or just there to cheer others on, it was a great opportunity to connect, unwind, and be inspired.

*Eligible attendees include residents, clinical pediatric dermatology fellows, and early investigators less than 7-years post training.

Leadership Forum—Creating a Consensus Culture

• Friday, October 10, 7:45 AM – 9:00 AM
• Speaker: Darryl Harris

In an evolving healthcare landscape, collaboration is key to progress. This interactive forum explored strategies for bringing together diverse teams—clinicians, researchers, trainees, and patient advocates—to build consensus around complex issues in pediatric dermatology. Leadership training expert Darryl Harris shared practical tools for fostering alignment, strengthening communication, and leading teams to success.

Camp Wonder at PeDRA

Camp Wonder at PeDRA took place during the 2025 PeDRA Annual Conference on Friday, October 10, at 3:30 PM. This FREE event was organized by the Children’s Skin Disease Foundation and supported by medical student volunteers, and provides a special experience for pediatric attendees during the Conference.

5th Annual PeDRA Dash for Discovery

The 5th Annual Dash for Discovery brought together more than 70 participants and raised over $7,000 for childhood skin disease research—thanks to the generosity of 24 donors and 10 sponsors from the nonprofit and patient advocacy community!

Keynote: Building Consensus, Advancing Care—Guidelines in Pediatric Dermatology

• Thursday, October 9, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
• Featured Speaker: Murad Alam, MD
• Session Introduction by: Meredith Weiss

PeDRA was honored to welcome Dr. Murad Alam for a keynote address focused on the vital role of consensus guidelines in pediatric dermatology. As a national leader in evidence-based dermatologic care, Dr. Alam shared insights into how expert-driven guidelines are developed and how they shape the diagnosis, management, and long-term outcomes for pediatric patients. Through real-world examples and collaborative experiences, he highlighted the power of consensus in elevating care standards, bridging research and clinical practice, and guiding the future of pediatric dermatology.

Patient Reception

• Thursday, October 9, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
• Featured Guests: Meredith Weiss, Chair of the Patient Advisory Committee, along with other committee members

This was an evening dedicated to the heart of our work: the patients. This gathering brought together patients, patient advocates, partners, clinicians, and researchers in an informal setting to celebrate shared experiences, exchange stories, and build community. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with experts in pediatric dermatology through a delightful game of patient bingo.

Plenary One: From Questions to Action—Patient-Driven Consensus in Motion

• Friday, October 10, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
• Moderator: Anne Davis, Heroes for Hallie Grace
• Panelists: Irene Lara Corrales, MD, Beccy Maeso, Sagair Hussain, MD, Ryan Hultman

This panel explored the process of working collaboratively with investigators, patient advocates, and patients to establish research priorities for each type of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). The panelists provided valuable insights, discussing the key steps, challenges, and strategies involved in such an initiative. They shared both the pearls and pitfalls encountered during the process, offering advice on how to successfully initiate and carry out a project like this at one’s own institution.

Lunch Platinum Sponsored Symposium: The Growing Burden: Cumulative Disease Impact and Comorbidities in Pediatric AD

• Friday, October 10, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
• Featuring: Jeff Yu, MD, and Lara Wine Lee, MD, PhD

Special thanks to Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Plenary Two: The Power of Consensus–Strategies, Successes, and Impact

• Saturday, October 11, 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
• Panelists: Clinical Guidelines – Dawn Davis, MD / Collaborative Research – Ilona Frieden, MD / Patient Roles in Consensus Work – Taylor Hodge
• Moderator: Wendy Smith Begolka

This dynamic panel brought together leaders in pediatric dermatology to explore the critical components of consensus-building that shape the future of clinical care and research. Panelists discussed the development and implementation of standardized outcome measures, the process of creating evidence-based clinical guidelines, and the role of multi-institutional, collaborative research networks in aligning practice across diverse settings. With a focus on transparency, inclusivity, and real-world impact, this session provided attendees with a behind-the-scenes look at how consensus is achieved — and why it matters for improving outcomes in pediatric patients.

Why Support the PeDRA Conference?

The PeDRA Annual Conference is a uniquely dynamic event, with a growing audience that includes the “who’s who” in pediatric dermatology research, the next generation of leaders in the field, patient advocates, and other stakeholders interested in advancing science for children and families living with the burden of skin diseases and conditions. PeDRA views industry partners as critical strategic allies and welcomes companies with an interest in connecting with, learning from, and messaging to its audience at the 2025 Annual Conference.

Just a few of the reasons to support the PeDRA Annual Conference:

• Be part of the conversations that shape the future of research and drug development in the field. PeDRA is the only annual event dedicated entirely to research in the field of pediatric dermatology.
• Strengthen relationships with current and future leaders in the field through numerous networking opportunities with attendees ranging from established KOLs, medical students and everyone in between.
• Demonstrate your commitment to patient communities spanning the field of pediatric dermatology. The PeDRA Annual Conference brings together dozens of patient advocacy groups and an annual meeting of its own Patient Advisory Committee.
• Provide vital resources to support PeDRA’s mission to create, inspire, and sustain research to prevent, treat, and cure childhood skin disease.

How to Support the PeDRA Annual Conference?

When you support the PeDRA Annual Conference it’s more than just a transaction. You join PeDRA as an ally in pursuit of its mission and vision. PeDRA is dedicated to providing meaningful value to Annual Conference supporters through these benefits and more:

• Carefully curated sponsorship packages and itemized sponsorship options providing access, engagement, and visibility for companies of any size or at any stage of development.
• Accessible advisory board meetings with hands-on support from PeDRA to recruit advisors, build an agenda, and get creative when necessary.
• Educational opportunities during a Platinum Sponsor Symposium (1 available), breakfast presentations, literature distribution, and the chance to submit abstracts for consideration as posters or oral presentations.
• A dynamic exhibit hall dominated by patient advocacy partners (who exhibit for free), but with plenty of space for companies interested in sharing with our audience. Plus, a fun and popular conference game that drives traffic to every exhibit table.
• Targeted messaging and visibility through a conference app, general sessions, Focused Study Group breakout sessions, and events including the Dash for Discovery fun run/walk/yoga and (in)famous Karaoke Reception.
• Personalized support to help every sponsor make the most of their time at the conference, regardless of the level of support.