Cell Biologist Elaine Fuchs: Revolutionizing the Study of Skin

29 March 2010

Cell biologist Elaine Fuchs is known for revolutionizing the study of skin and for her support of women in science.

Children, Elaine Fuchs says, have a natural fascination with science. She remembers that she did.

"I think like many of the children in our world, I got interested in science just from having a butterfly net and from having a few strainers and some boots and going down to the streams and creeks and being out in the fields," says Fuchs.

Her childhood fascination with science grew with her. She moved from butterflies to biochemistry, and her research over the past three decades has revolutionized the study of skin and skin diseases.

The Rockefeller UniversityElaine Fuchs encourages girls and young women to pursue careers in science.

Working at the leading edge of research on cellular biology and genetic skin disorders, Fuchs was the first to precisely describe keratins — the principal structural proteins of skin cells — and identify diseases caused by mutations in the keratin gene. At The Rockefeller University in New York, she is currently studying how skin forms from precursor stem cells, looking for clues that could help researchers understand how defective stem cells can cause cancers and other disorders.

Fuchs is proud that her research and teaching have blazed trails.