Haihui Liao graduated in Medicine from Beijing in 2003 and in 2004, joined the Epithelial Genetics Group as a Research Assistant funded by the genetic skin disorder charity DEBRA UK.

His main project is to carry out molecular genetic diagnostic testing for the skin blistering disorder epidermolysis bullosa simplex and a variety of other human keratin disorders including pachyonychia congenita, bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma and others. This work is done in partnership with Dr David U Baty, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Ninewells University Hospitals NHS Trust, Dundee, funded by the genetic skin disorder charity DEBRA.

Liao carries out the testing for all keratin disorders referred to the McLean/Baty lab from dermatology and genetics centres all across the UK and beyond. In addition, he carries out all the genetic testing for PC patients identified worldwide by the International Pachyonychia Congenita Consortium.

Dr Liao has recently been involved in screening different human ethnic populations for filaggrin mutations causing ichthyosis vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. He aims to submit his research for a PhD.

Selected Publications:

1. Smith FJD, Liao H et al., (2005) “The genetic basis of pachyonychia congenita.” J Invest Dermatol Symp Proc, 10:21-30.

2. Smith FJD et al., (2006) “Loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin cause ichthyosis vulgaris.” Nature Genet, 38:337-342 [Epub ahead of print, Jan 29, 2006].

3. Palmer CNA et al., (2006) “Common loss-of-function variants of the epidermal barrier protein filaggrin are a major predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis.” Nature Genet [Epub ahead of print, Mar 19, 2006].