2025 Pathways to Progress Summit Empowers Emerging Leaders in Pediatric Dermatology Clinical Research

June 4, 2025 – The inaugural PeDRA Pathways to Progress Summit, held May 16–17, 2025, at the Omni Parker House in Boston, MA, brought together a select group of early- to mid-career investigators, clinical fellows, and residents to foster collaboration and provide education relevant to the advancement of clinical research in the field of pediatric dermatology. Organized by PeDRA under the guidance of expert faculty—including chairperson Jeff Yu, MD—the summit aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge needed to initiate and contribute to clinical trials and therapeutic development for children with skin diseases.

The two-day event featured a comprehensive program that included panels and presentations on industry engagement, interactive clinical trial “M&M” sessions, and discussions of each stage of the clinical trial journey—from recruitment to reporting adverse events. Notable sessions included “Your First Meeting with an MSL,” a presentation by Dr. Femida Gwadry-Sridhar on the role of real-world evidence in clinical research, and the Patient Appreciation Dinner, which featured an interactive panel with four guests from the patient community. Participants had the opportunity to engage with representatives from industry and patient advocacy throughout the event, enhancing their understanding of the collaborative landscape in pediatric dermatology and importance of clinical research to the primary stakeholders: the patients.

The summit’s success underscored the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and an understanding of institutional processes, strengths, and weaknesses in advancing pediatric dermatology research. The event laid the groundwork for future innovations in the field and brought us closer to PeDRA’s vision of changing lives and healing children through collaboration and discovery.

For more information on the Pathways to Progress Summit, visit this page and view the photo recap below.

We gratefully acknowledge Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Abeona, Sanofi, Arcutis, Incyte, Pfizer, Astria, Lilly, Palvella, and Pulse Infoframe for their support of the 2025 PeDRA Pathways to Progress Summit.

Special thanks to patient advocacy partners Gorlin Syndrome Alliance, HS Connect, National Eczema Association, and Nevus Outreach for their participation at the 2025 PeDRA Pathways to Progress Summit.

Learn more and register for PeDRA’s next in-person event—the 2025 PeDRA Annual Conference—taking place October 9–11 in Minneapolis, MN.