In response to the need for healthy collaborations between academia and industry to generate therapies that improve the lives of children living with skin diseases and conditions, the inaugural PeDRA Pathways to Progress Summit took place May 16-17, 2025 at the Omni Parker House hotel in Boston, MA. Over the course of a two-day agenda, a small group of early-to-mid career investigators, clinical fellows, and residents from PeDRA’s membership were joined by key opinion leaders, industry partners, patient advocacy, and others for a unique learning and networking experience that set them on course to become savvy industry collaborators and fruitful contributors to clinical research programs. The program was anchored around three core learning objectives:
- Gain an appreciation for the synergy between industry objectives and PeDRA’s vision of changing lives and healing children with skin disease through collaboration and discovery.
- Understand the opportunities available and importance of industry collaboration for developing treatments for pediatric dermatology conditions.
- Understand how to initiate and participate in clinical trials, and how to appropriately interface with individuals at pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to be a successful contributor to the clinical trial process.

Preliminary Agenda
Last Updated April 10, 2025
Sponsor appreciation lunch – Invitation only
Welcome Session
Why Get Involved with Industry? Keith Choate, MD, PhD and Peter Lio, MD
Do’s and Don’ts of Industry Engagement. All faculty
Break
Your First Meeting with an MSL. Jeff Yu, MD; Shilpa Nair, PharmD; Michelle Her, PharmD
Who’s Who in Industry? Roundtable discussion
Break
Patient Appreciation Dinner with Panel Discussion. Lara Wine Lee, MD, PhD
Hosted Reception
Breakfast with Featured Presentation: The Future of Clinical Research. Femida Gwadry-Sridhar, MSc, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part I. Amy Paller, MD and Stephanie Rangel, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part II. Harper Price, MD and Kellie Badger, RN
The Clinical Trial Journey Part III. Jeff Yu, MD and Jeremy van Hoff, JD
Break
The Clinical Trial Journey Part IV. Keith Choate, MD, PhD; Harper Price, MD; Cassandra Stand; Lara Wine Lee, MD, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part V. Keith Choate, MD, PhD; Peter Lio, MD; Amy Paller, MD
The Clinical Trial Journey Wrap Up. Jeff Yu, MD
Lunch with Featured Presentation: Clinical Trials Outside of Academia. Peter Lio, MD
Investigator Initiated Studies. Amy Paller, MD and Stephanie Rangel, PhD
Clinical Trial M & M’s. All faculty
Moderated Q & A. All faculty
Closing Remarks. Jeff Yu, MD
Faculty
Scroll through to view all faculty.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Yale University

Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago

Northwestern University

Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical University of South Carolina

Massachusetts General Hospital

Yale University

Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago

Northwestern University

Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical University of South Carolina
Eligibility
Please note, PeDRA is no longer accepting applications for the 2025 Pathways to Progress Summit. Applications were due on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Twenty early-to-mid career investigators (within 10 years of finishing training), clinical fellows, and residents* will be accepted based on a competitive application process. To apply, applicants must:
- be a PeDRA member in good standing
- submit an application to attend before the deadline of Thursday, January 16, 2025, to include:
- A personal statement
- CV
- Letter from a recent or current mentor or supervisor
*A limited number of M3 or M4 medical students or mid-career investigators (10 – 15 years post training) may be considered depending on space.
Partnership
A partnership prospectus was available to those interested in sponsoring this event. PeDRA worked with partners to design an experience that provided the level of engagement and benefits best suited to each organization and its objectives. Looking to support a future event? Contact Mike Siegel to learn about upcoming opportunities.
In response to the need for healthy collaborations between academia and industry to generate therapies that improve the lives of children living with skin diseases and conditions, the inaugural PeDRA Pathways to Progress Summit took place May 16-17, 2025 at the Omni Parker House hotel in Boston, MA. Over the course of a two-day agenda, a small group of early-to-mid career investigators, clinical fellows, and residents from PeDRA’s membership were joined by key opinion leaders, industry partners, patient advocacy, and others for a unique learning and networking experience that set them on course to become savvy industry collaborators and fruitful contributors to clinical research programs. The program was anchored around three core learning objectives:
- Gain an appreciation for the synergy between industry objectives and PeDRA’s vision of changing lives and healing children with skin disease through collaboration and discovery.
- Understand the opportunities available and importance of industry collaboration for developing treatments for pediatric dermatology conditions.
- Understand how to initiate and participate in clinical trials, and how to appropriately interface with individuals at pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to be a successful contributor to the clinical trial process.

Preliminary Agenda
Last Updated April 10, 2025
Sponsor appreciation lunch – Invitation only
Welcome Session
Why Get Involved with Industry? Keith Choate, MD, PhD and Peter Lio, MD
Do’s and Don’ts of Industry Engagement. All faculty
Break
Your First Meeting with an MSL. Jeff Yu, MD; Shilpa Nair, PharmD; Michelle Her, PharmD
Who’s Who in Industry? Roundtable discussion
Break
Patient Appreciation Dinner with Panel Discussion. Lara Wine Lee, MD, PhD
Hosted Reception
Breakfast with Featured Presentation: The Future of Clinical Research. Femida Gwadry-Sridhar, MSc, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part I. Amy Paller, MD and Stephanie Rangel, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part II. Harper Price, MD and Kellie Badger, RN
The Clinical Trial Journey Part III. Jeff Yu, MD and Jeremy van Hoff, JD
Break
The Clinical Trial Journey Part IV. Keith Choate, MD, PhD; Harper Price, MD; Cassandra Stand; Lara Wine Lee, MD, PhD
The Clinical Trial Journey Part V. Keith Choate, MD, PhD; Peter Lio, MD; Amy Paller, MD
The Clinical Trial Journey Wrap Up. Jeff Yu, MD
Lunch with Featured Presentation: Clinical Trials Outside of Academia. Peter Lio, MD
Investigator Initiated Studies. Amy Paller, MD and Stephanie Rangel, PhD
Clinical Trial M & M’s. All faculty
Moderated Q & A. All faculty
Closing Remarks. Jeff Yu, MD
Faculty
Scroll through to view all faculty.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Yale University

Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago

Northwestern University

Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical University of South Carolina

Massachusetts General Hospital

Yale University

Medical Dermatology Associates of Chicago

Northwestern University

Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical University of South Carolina
Eligibility
Please note, PeDRA is no longer accepting applications for the 2025 Pathways to Progress Summit. Applications were due on Thursday, January 16, 2025.
Twenty early-to-mid career investigators (within 10 years of finishing training), clinical fellows, and residents* will be accepted based on a competitive application process. To apply, applicants must:
- be a PeDRA member in good standing
- submit an application to attend before the deadline of Thursday, January 16, 2025, to include:
- A personal statement
- CV
- Letter from a recent or current mentor or supervisor
*A limited number of M3 or M4 medical students or mid-career investigators (10 – 15 years post training) may be considered depending on space.
Partnership
A partnership prospectus was available to those interested in sponsoring this event. PeDRA worked with partners to design an experience that provided the level of engagement and benefits best suited to each organization and its objectives. Looking to support a future event? Contact Mike Siegel to learn about upcoming opportunities.
Supporters
Thanks to our supporters for making the 2025 Pathways to Progress Summit possible.










