Anand K. Ganesan
Professor, Dermatology
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Professor, Biological Chemistry
Professor , Surgery
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine
Co-Director, BIDD Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
Associate Dean for Physician-Scientist Development, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1994, Molecular and Cell Biology
Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, 1999, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, 2001
Ph.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, 1999, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin, 2001
University of California, Irvine
202 SPRAGUE HALL
Mail Code: 2400
Irvine, CA 92697
202 SPRAGUE HALL
Mail Code: 2400
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
melanogenesis, melanoma, vitiligo
Websites
Appointments
Core Co-Director, Imaging Core, UCI Skin
Co-Director, Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Advisor, Medical Scientist Training Program
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology
Standing Member, AMS Study Section, CSR
Equity Advisor, UCI School of Medicine
Co-Director, Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Program, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Advisor, Medical Scientist Training Program
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Dermatology
Standing Member, AMS Study Section, CSR
Equity Advisor, UCI School of Medicine
Research Abstract
Dr Ganesan’s research work focuses: 1) understanding how melanocytes respond to environmental cues (UV irradiation, inflammation) in order to maintain normal homeostasis; and 2) determining how this homeostasis is disrupted in disease (melanoma, vitiligo). His research utilizes a combination of advanced functional genomic technology (si/shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Engineering, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, DNA sequencing), cell biology methods, and rational drug design strategies to develop novel diagnostics and treatments for disease. Most work in his lab employs a combination of human derived cell lines/ strains, transgenic mouse models, and human tissues.
Awards and Honors
2023 Research Achievement Award in Vitiligo and Pigment Cell Disorders
2013 Research Associates Dean's Junior Physician Scientist Award
2011 American Cancer Society Research Scholar
2010 Dermatology Teaching Award
2009-PRES Best Doctors of America
2008 IID Travel Fellowship
2007 ESDR/SID Collegiality Award
2004-2006 Physician Scientist Training Program Fellow, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
2001 Armand J. Quick Award for Excellence in Biochemistry
1994 Honors Graduate, University of California, Berkeley
2013 Research Associates Dean's Junior Physician Scientist Award
2011 American Cancer Society Research Scholar
2010 Dermatology Teaching Award
2009-PRES Best Doctors of America
2008 IID Travel Fellowship
2007 ESDR/SID Collegiality Award
2004-2006 Physician Scientist Training Program Fellow, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
2001 Armand J. Quick Award for Excellence in Biochemistry
1994 Honors Graduate, University of California, Berkeley
Publications
PEER -REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
1. Hall JA. Ganesan AK. Chen J. Nikaido H. Two modes of ligand binding in maltose-binding protein of Escherichia coli. Functional significance in active transport. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 272(28):17615-22. 1997 Jul 11.
2. Ganesan AK. Frank DW. Misra RP. Schmidt G. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S ADP-ribosylates Ras at multiple sites. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273(13):7332-7. 1998 Mar 27.
3. Ganesan AK. Mende-Mueller L. Selzer J. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S, a double ADP-ribosyltransferase, resembles vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274(14):9503-9. 1999 Apr
4. Ganesan AK. Vincent TS. Olson JC. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S disrupts Ras-mediated signal transduction by inhibiting guanine nucleotide exchange factor-catalyzed nucleotide exchange. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274(31):21823-9. 1999 Jul 30.
5. Ganesan AK. Kho, Y. Kim, SC. Chen Y. Zhao Y. White MA. Broad spectrum identification of SUMO substrates in melanoma cells. Proteomics. 2007 Jul 7(13):2216-21
6. Ganesan AK. Ho H, Bodemann B. Petersen S. Aruri J. Koshy S. Richardson Z. Le LQ. Krasieva T. Roth MG. Farmer P. White MA. Genome-Wide siRNA-Based Functional Genomics of Pigmentation Identifies Novel Genes and Pathways That Impact Melanogenesis in Human Cells. PLoS Genet. 2008 Dec;4(12):e1000298
7. Milenkovic T. Memisevic V. Ganesan AK. Przulj N. Systems-level Cancer Gene Identification from Protein Interaction Network Topology Applied to Melanogenesis-related Functional Genomics Data. J R Soc Interface, 2010 Mar 6; 7(44):423-37.
8. Ho H. Milenkovic T. Memisevic V. Aruri J. Przulj N. Ganesan AK. Protein Interaction Network Topology Uncovers Melanogenesis Regulatory Network Components Within Functional Genomics Datasets. BMC Syst. Biol. 2010 Jun 15; 4(1):84
9. Ho H. Kapadia R. Al-Tahan S. Ahmad S. Ganesan AK. WIPI1 coordinates melanogenic gene transcription and melanosome formation via TORC1 inhibition. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12509-23.
10. Ho H. Ganesan AK. The Pleiotropic Roles of Autophagy Regulators in Melanogenesis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2011 Aug;24(4):595-604
11. Ghasri P. Gattu S. Saedi N. Ganesan A. Chemical leukoderma following application of transdermal methylphenidate patch. JAAD 2011 in press
12. Ho, H. Aruri, J. Kapadia, R. Mehr, H. White MA. Ganesan AK. RhoJ and Pak Kinases Regulate Melanoma Chemoresistance by Suppressing Pathways that Sense DNA Damage. Cancer Research, 2012 Nov 1;72(21):5516-28.
13. Ho H. Hopkin AS. Kapadia R. Vasudeva P. Schilling J. Ganesan AK. RhoJ Modulates Melanoma Invasion by Altering Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2013 Mar;26(2):218-25.
14. Paterson E. Ho H. Kapadia R. Ganesan AK. 9-cis Retinoic Acid is the ALDH1A1 Product that Stimulates Melanogenesis. Exp. Dermatol. 2013 Mar;22(3):202-209.
15. Saedi N. Ganesan AK. Treating hyperpigmentation in darker-skinned patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 May; 12(5): 563-7.
16. Paterson EK. Fielder TJ. MacGregor GR. Ito S. Wakamatsu K. Gillen DJ. Evy V. Boissy RE. Ganesan AK. Tyrosinase Depletion Prevents the Maturation of Melanosomes in the Mouse Hair Follicle. PLoS One. 2015 Nov 30;10(11):e0143702
17. Realini N. Palese F. Pizzrani D. Pontis S. Basit A. Bach A. Ganesan A. Piomelli D. Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma: Expression, Localization, and effects of Pharmacologic Inhibition. J Biol Chem 2016 Jan 29;291(5):2422-34.
18. Hopkin AS, Paterson EK, Ruiz R, Ganesan AK. Pigment Production Analysis in Human Melanoma Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2016 May 25.
19. Chen CF, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Espitia F, Krasieva TB, de Feraudy S, Tromberg BJ, Huang S, Garner CP, Wu J, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. ATR Mutations Promote the Growth of Melanoma Tumors by Modulating the Immune Microenvironment. Cell Rep. 2017 Mar 7;18(10):2331-2342.
20. Ortega JA, Arencibia, JM, La Sala G, Brogogno M, Bauer I, Bono L, Braccia C, Amirotti A, Girotto S, Ganesan A, De Vivo M. Pharmacophore Identification and Scaffold Exploration to Discover Novel, Potent, and Chemically Stable Inhibitors of Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma Cells. J Med Chem 2017. 2017 Jul 13;60(13):5800-5815.
21. Ruiz-Vega R, Jahid S, Harris M, Marzese DM, Espitia F, Vasudeva P, Chen CF, de Feraudy S, Wu J, Gillen DL, Krasieva TB, Tromberg BJ, Pavan WJ, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. The RhoJ BAD Singaling Network: An Achilles Heel for BRAF Mutant Melanoma. PLoS Genetics. 2017 Jul 28;13(7):e1006913.
22. Lai M, Realini N, LaFerla M, Passalacqua I, Matteoli G, Ganesan A, Pistello M, Mazanti CM, Piomell D. Complete Acid Ceramidase ablation prevents cancer initiating cell formation in melanoma cells. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 7; 7(1);7411.
23. Thomas LW, Elsensohn A, Bergheim T, Shiu J, Ganesan A. Intramuscular Steroids in the Treatment of Dermatologic Disease: A Systematic Review. 2018 Mar 1;17(3):323-329.
24. Liggins MC, Flesher JL, Jahid S, Vasudeva P, Eby V, Takasuga S, Sasaki J, Sasaki T, Boissy RE, Ganesan AK. PIKfyve Regulates Melanosome Biogenesis. PLoS Genetics. 2018 Mar 27;14(3):e100729.
25. Lentsch G, Balu M, Williams J, Lee S, Harris RM, Konig K, Ganesan A, Tromberg BJ, Nair N, Santhanam U, Misra M. In vivo multiphoton microscopy of melasma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2019 May; 32(3) 403-411.
26. Wang C, Kraus CN, Patel KG, Ganesan AK, Grando SA. Real-world experience of dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis in adults: a retrospective analysis of patients’ records. Int J Dermatol 2019 Jul 8.
27. Mobasher P, Guerra R, Jiaying Li S, Frangos J, Ganesan AK, Huang V. Open Label Pilot Study of 2% Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Refractory Vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Oct 12.
28. Flesher JL, Paterson-Coleman EK, Vasudeva P, Ruiz-Vega R, Marshall M, Pearlman E, MacGregor GR, Neumann J, Ganesan AK. Delineating the role of MITF isoforms in pigmentation and tissue homeostasis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2020 Mar;33(2):279-292.
29. Hoang T, Ganesan AK, Hiyama D, Dayyani F. Gene mutations distinguishing gastric from colorectal and esophageal adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2020 Feb;11(1):45-54.
30. Lentsch G, Valdebran M, Sakrite I, Smith J, Linden KG, Konig K, Barr RJ, Harris RM, Tromberg BJ, Ganesan AK, Zachary CB, Kelly KM, Balu M. Non-invasive optical biopy by multiphoton microscopy identifies the live morphology of common melanocytic nevi. Pigment Cell Melanoma Research. 2020 Jun 2.
31. Ruiz-Vega R, Chen CF, Razzak E, Vasudeva P, Kraseiva TB, Shiu J, Caldwell MG, Yan H, Lowengrub J, Ganesan AK, Lander AD. Dynamics of Nevus Development implicate cell cooperation in the growth arrest of melanocytic nevi. Elife. 2020 Oct 13;9:e61026.
32. Habowski AN. Flesher JL. Bates JM. Tsai CF. Martin K. Zhao R. Ganesan AK. Edwards RA, Shi T. Wiley HS. Shi Y. Hertel KJ. Waterman ML. Transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of stemness and differentiation in the colon crypt. Commun Biol. 2020 Aug 19;3(1):453. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01181-z.
33. Fast A. Lai A. Durkin AF. Lentsch G. Harris RM. Zachary CB. Ganesan AK. Balu M. Fast, large area multiphoton exoscope (FLAME) for macroscopic imaging with microscopic resolution of human skin. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 22; 10(1):18093. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75172-9.
34. Mobasher P. Shiu J. Lentsch G. Ganesan AK. Comparing the Efficacy of 2 Different Harvesting Techniques for Melanocyte Keratinocyte Transplantation in Vitiligo. Dermatologic Surgery: 2021 May 1;47(5):732-733.
35. Vu T. Vallmitjana A. Gu J. La K. Xu Q. Flores J. Zimak J. Shiu J. Hosohama L. Wu J. Douglas C. Waterman ML. Ganesan A. Hedde PN. Gratton E. Zhao W. Spatial transcriptomics using combinatorial fluorescence spectral and lifetime encoding, imaging and analysis. Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):169.
36. Jahid S. Ortega JA. Vuong LM. Acquistaspace IM. Hachey SJ. Flesher JL. La Serra MA. Brindani N. La Sala G. Manigrosso J. Arencibia JM. Bertozzi SM. Summa M, Bertorelli R. Amirotti A. Jin R. Liu Z. Chen CF. Edwards R. Hughes CCW. De Vivo M. Ganesan AK. Structure-based Design of CDC42 Effector Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. Cell Reports. In 2022 Apr 5;39(1):110641.
37, La Serra MA, Vidossich P, Acquistapace I, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Alchemical Free Energy Calculations to Investigate Protein-Protein Interactions: the Case of the CDC42/PAK1 Complex. J Chem Inf Model. 2022 Jun 27;62(12):3023-3033.
38. Shiu J. Zhang L. Lentsch G. Flesher JL. Polleys C. Jo SJ. Mizzoni C. Mobasher P. Kwan J. Ruis-Diaz F. Tromberg BJ. Georgakoudi I. Nie Q. Balu M. Ganesan AK. Multimodal Analysis of Vitiligo Skin Identifies Tissue Characteristics of Stable Disease. JCI Insight 2022 Jul 8;7(13):e154585.
39, Ganesan AK, Taylor TH, Kraus CN. Association of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus with Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer. JAAD Int. 2022 Jul 22;9:26-27.
40. Rosmarin D, Passeron T, Pandya AG, Grimes P, Harris JE, Desai SR, Lebwohl M, Ruer-Mulard M, Seneschal J, Wolkerstorfer A, Kornacki D, Sun K, Butler K, Ezzedine K; TRuE-V Study Group. Two Phase 3, Randomized, Controlled Trials of Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2022 Oct 20;387(16):1445-1455.
41. Ezzedine K, Peeva E, Yamaguchi Y, Cox LA, Banerjee A, Han G, Hamzavi I, Ganesan AK, Picardo M, Thaçi D, Harris JE, Bae JM, Tsukamoto K, Sinclair R, Pandya AG, Sloan A, Yu D, Gandhi K, Vincent MS, King B. Efficacy and safety of oral ritlecitinib for the treatment of active nonsegmental vitiligo: A randomized phase 2b clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Feb;88(2):395-403.
42. Brindani N, Vuong LM, Acquistapace IM, La Serra MA, Ortega JA, Veronesi M, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of CDC42 GTPase Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem. 2023 Apr 27;66(8):5981-6001.
43. Gu J, Jian H, Wei C, Shiu J, Ganesan A, Zhao W, Hedde PN. A Low-Cost Modular Imaging System for Rapid, Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Detection in Clinical Tissues. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 10;24(8):7008
44. Wang X, Ramos R, Phan AQ, Yamaga K, Flesher JL, Jiang S, Oh JW, Jin S, Jahid S, Kuan CH, Nguyen TK, Liang HY, Shettigar NU, Hou R, Tran KH, Nguyen A, Vu KN, Phung JL, Ingal JP, Levitt KM, Cao X, Liu Y, Deng Z, Taguchi N, Scarfone VM, Wang G, Paolilli KN, Wang X, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Davis RT, Greenberg EN, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Murad R, Widyastuti LHP, Lee HL, McElwee KJ, Gadeau AP, Lawson DA, Andersen B, Mortazavi A, Yu Z, Nie Q, Kunisada T, Karin M, Tuckermann J, Esko JD, Ganesan AK, Li J, Plikus MV. Signalling by senescent melanocytes hyperactivates hair growth. Nature. 2023 Jun;618(7966):808-817.
45. Geels SN, Moshensky A, Sousa RS, Murat C, Bustos MA, Walker BL, Singh R, Harbour SN, Gutierrez G, Hwang M, Mempel TR, Weaver CT, Nie Q, Hoon DSB, Ganesan AK, Othy S, Marangoni F. Interruption of the intratumor CD8+ T cell:Treg crosstalk improves the efficacy of PD-1 immunotherapy. Cancer Cell. 2024 Jun 10;42(6):1051-1066.e7.
46. Shiu J, Lentsch G, Polleys CM, Mobasher P, Ericson M, Georgakoudi I, Ganesan AK, Balu M. Noninvasive Imaging Techniques for Monitoring Cellular Response to Treatment in Stable Vitiligo. J Invest Dermatol. 2024 Apr;144(4):912-915.e2.
47. Ramos R, Swedlund B, Ganesan AK, Morsut L, Maini PK, Monuki ES, Lander AD, Chuong CM, Plikus MV Parsing patterns: Emerging roles of tissue self-organization in health and disease. Cell. 2024 Jun 20;187(13):3165-3186.
48. Brindani N, Vuong LM, La Serra MA, Salvador N, Menichetti A, Acquistapace IM, Ortega JA, Veronesi M, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Discovery of CDC42 Inhibitors with a Favorable Pharmacokinetic Profile and Anticancer In Vivo Efficacy. J Med Chem. 2024 Jun 27;67(12):10401-10424.
49. Hamzavi, IH. Ganesan, AK. Mahmoud, BH. Weiss, E. Ahmed, AM. Robinson, D. Goldman, MP. Munavalli, G. Kahn, SA. Huang, V. Waibel, J. Desai, A. Elbuluk, N. Desai, S. Pandya, AG. Effective and durable repigmentation for stable vitiligo: A randomized within-subject controlled trial assessing treatment with autologous skin cell suspension transplantation, J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 Sep 7:S0190-9622(24)02713-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.08.027.
50. Xiao H, Shiu J, Chen CF, Wu J, Zhou P, Telang SS, Ruiz-Vega R, Edwards RA, Nie Q, Lander AD, Ganesan AK. Uncovering minimal pathways in melanoma initiation. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):5369. Epub 20250626. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60742-0. PMC12202705.
51. Vuong LM, Hachey S, Shiu J, Xie DF, Salvador N, Brindani N, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Pham R, Ku VSH, Limbekar SD, Nguyen T, Choi B, Hughes CCW, De Vivo M, Ganesan AK. CDC42-effector interaction inhibitors alter patterns of vessel arborization in skin and tumors in vivo. iScience. 2025 Jul 14;28(7):112971. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112971. eCollection 2025 Jul 18. PMC12432855.
52. Vallmitjana A, Durkin AF, Dvornikov A, Torrado B, Kelly KM, Shiu J, Ganesan AK, Balu M, "Label-free multiphoton microscopy of human skin: longitudinal studies capturing cell dynamics," Biomed. Opt. Express 16, 3912-3922 (2025)
53. Torrado B, Vallmitjana A, Ranjit S, Far-Hadian M, Durkin AF, Dvornikov A, Ganesan AK, Kelly KM, Chang P, Balu M. “In vivo human skin imaging: Distinguishing cellular and fibrillar components with fluorescence lifetime microscopy.” J Invest Dermatol. 2026 May;146(5):1434-1438.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.10.612. Epub 2025 Nov 19.
54. Pandya AG, Mahmoud BH, Huggins RH, Ganesan AK, Silverberg NB, Munavalli G, Weiss E, Zubair R, Lal K, Jensen JD, Skelsey MK, Ezra N, Siperstein R, Noell C, Grekin SK, Hamzavi IH. “Autologous cell harvesting device provides repigmentation and improves quality-of-life for patients with stable vitiligo lesions in a large and diverse patient population.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025 Aug;93(2):378-386. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.03.066. Epub 2025 Mar 28.PMID: 40158537
55. Ganesan AK, Ezzedine K, Hanna S, Rashighi M, Seneschal J, Goss SL, Schlosser BJ, Hu X, He T, Crouthamel M, Camp HS, Passeron T. “Three-dimensional imaging for facial vitiligo: Results from a phase 2 randomized controlled trial investigating upadacitinib in patients with vitiligo.” J Invest Dermatol. 2026 Jan 28:S0022-202X(26)00037-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.12.036.
56. La Serra MA, Yadav A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. “Recent advances in CDC42 subfamily inhibition and therapeutic potential.” Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2026 May 21:S0165-6147(26)00088-X. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2026.04.004. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42168045.
PATENTS
1. Ganesan AK, White MA, Farmer P. Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitors as Novel Depigmenting Agents. US Patent Number No. 14/322,837, Issued July 2014
2. De Vivo M, Ganesan AK, Martinez JAO, Jahid S. Compounds and Compositions for the Treatment of Cancer, Retinal Disorders, and Cardiomyopathies. Patent Filing Number 102017000047189. Issued 12/10/21.
1. Hall JA. Ganesan AK. Chen J. Nikaido H. Two modes of ligand binding in maltose-binding protein of Escherichia coli. Functional significance in active transport. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 272(28):17615-22. 1997 Jul 11.
2. Ganesan AK. Frank DW. Misra RP. Schmidt G. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S ADP-ribosylates Ras at multiple sites. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273(13):7332-7. 1998 Mar 27.
3. Ganesan AK. Mende-Mueller L. Selzer J. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S, a double ADP-ribosyltransferase, resembles vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274(14):9503-9. 1999 Apr
4. Ganesan AK. Vincent TS. Olson JC. Barbieri JT. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S disrupts Ras-mediated signal transduction by inhibiting guanine nucleotide exchange factor-catalyzed nucleotide exchange. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 274(31):21823-9. 1999 Jul 30.
5. Ganesan AK. Kho, Y. Kim, SC. Chen Y. Zhao Y. White MA. Broad spectrum identification of SUMO substrates in melanoma cells. Proteomics. 2007 Jul 7(13):2216-21
6. Ganesan AK. Ho H, Bodemann B. Petersen S. Aruri J. Koshy S. Richardson Z. Le LQ. Krasieva T. Roth MG. Farmer P. White MA. Genome-Wide siRNA-Based Functional Genomics of Pigmentation Identifies Novel Genes and Pathways That Impact Melanogenesis in Human Cells. PLoS Genet. 2008 Dec;4(12):e1000298
7. Milenkovic T. Memisevic V. Ganesan AK. Przulj N. Systems-level Cancer Gene Identification from Protein Interaction Network Topology Applied to Melanogenesis-related Functional Genomics Data. J R Soc Interface, 2010 Mar 6; 7(44):423-37.
8. Ho H. Milenkovic T. Memisevic V. Aruri J. Przulj N. Ganesan AK. Protein Interaction Network Topology Uncovers Melanogenesis Regulatory Network Components Within Functional Genomics Datasets. BMC Syst. Biol. 2010 Jun 15; 4(1):84
9. Ho H. Kapadia R. Al-Tahan S. Ahmad S. Ganesan AK. WIPI1 coordinates melanogenic gene transcription and melanosome formation via TORC1 inhibition. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12509-23.
10. Ho H. Ganesan AK. The Pleiotropic Roles of Autophagy Regulators in Melanogenesis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2011 Aug;24(4):595-604
11. Ghasri P. Gattu S. Saedi N. Ganesan A. Chemical leukoderma following application of transdermal methylphenidate patch. JAAD 2011 in press
12. Ho, H. Aruri, J. Kapadia, R. Mehr, H. White MA. Ganesan AK. RhoJ and Pak Kinases Regulate Melanoma Chemoresistance by Suppressing Pathways that Sense DNA Damage. Cancer Research, 2012 Nov 1;72(21):5516-28.
13. Ho H. Hopkin AS. Kapadia R. Vasudeva P. Schilling J. Ganesan AK. RhoJ Modulates Melanoma Invasion by Altering Actin Cytoskeletal Dynamics. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2013 Mar;26(2):218-25.
14. Paterson E. Ho H. Kapadia R. Ganesan AK. 9-cis Retinoic Acid is the ALDH1A1 Product that Stimulates Melanogenesis. Exp. Dermatol. 2013 Mar;22(3):202-209.
15. Saedi N. Ganesan AK. Treating hyperpigmentation in darker-skinned patients. J Drugs Dermatol. 2013 May; 12(5): 563-7.
16. Paterson EK. Fielder TJ. MacGregor GR. Ito S. Wakamatsu K. Gillen DJ. Evy V. Boissy RE. Ganesan AK. Tyrosinase Depletion Prevents the Maturation of Melanosomes in the Mouse Hair Follicle. PLoS One. 2015 Nov 30;10(11):e0143702
17. Realini N. Palese F. Pizzrani D. Pontis S. Basit A. Bach A. Ganesan A. Piomelli D. Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma: Expression, Localization, and effects of Pharmacologic Inhibition. J Biol Chem 2016 Jan 29;291(5):2422-34.
18. Hopkin AS, Paterson EK, Ruiz R, Ganesan AK. Pigment Production Analysis in Human Melanoma Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2016 May 25.
19. Chen CF, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Espitia F, Krasieva TB, de Feraudy S, Tromberg BJ, Huang S, Garner CP, Wu J, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. ATR Mutations Promote the Growth of Melanoma Tumors by Modulating the Immune Microenvironment. Cell Rep. 2017 Mar 7;18(10):2331-2342.
20. Ortega JA, Arencibia, JM, La Sala G, Brogogno M, Bauer I, Bono L, Braccia C, Amirotti A, Girotto S, Ganesan A, De Vivo M. Pharmacophore Identification and Scaffold Exploration to Discover Novel, Potent, and Chemically Stable Inhibitors of Acid Ceramidase in Melanoma Cells. J Med Chem 2017. 2017 Jul 13;60(13):5800-5815.
21. Ruiz-Vega R, Jahid S, Harris M, Marzese DM, Espitia F, Vasudeva P, Chen CF, de Feraudy S, Wu J, Gillen DL, Krasieva TB, Tromberg BJ, Pavan WJ, Hoon DS, Ganesan AK. The RhoJ BAD Singaling Network: An Achilles Heel for BRAF Mutant Melanoma. PLoS Genetics. 2017 Jul 28;13(7):e1006913.
22. Lai M, Realini N, LaFerla M, Passalacqua I, Matteoli G, Ganesan A, Pistello M, Mazanti CM, Piomell D. Complete Acid Ceramidase ablation prevents cancer initiating cell formation in melanoma cells. Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 7; 7(1);7411.
23. Thomas LW, Elsensohn A, Bergheim T, Shiu J, Ganesan A. Intramuscular Steroids in the Treatment of Dermatologic Disease: A Systematic Review. 2018 Mar 1;17(3):323-329.
24. Liggins MC, Flesher JL, Jahid S, Vasudeva P, Eby V, Takasuga S, Sasaki J, Sasaki T, Boissy RE, Ganesan AK. PIKfyve Regulates Melanosome Biogenesis. PLoS Genetics. 2018 Mar 27;14(3):e100729.
25. Lentsch G, Balu M, Williams J, Lee S, Harris RM, Konig K, Ganesan A, Tromberg BJ, Nair N, Santhanam U, Misra M. In vivo multiphoton microscopy of melasma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2019 May; 32(3) 403-411.
26. Wang C, Kraus CN, Patel KG, Ganesan AK, Grando SA. Real-world experience of dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis in adults: a retrospective analysis of patients’ records. Int J Dermatol 2019 Jul 8.
27. Mobasher P, Guerra R, Jiaying Li S, Frangos J, Ganesan AK, Huang V. Open Label Pilot Study of 2% Tofacitinib for the Treatment of Refractory Vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Oct 12.
28. Flesher JL, Paterson-Coleman EK, Vasudeva P, Ruiz-Vega R, Marshall M, Pearlman E, MacGregor GR, Neumann J, Ganesan AK. Delineating the role of MITF isoforms in pigmentation and tissue homeostasis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2020 Mar;33(2):279-292.
29. Hoang T, Ganesan AK, Hiyama D, Dayyani F. Gene mutations distinguishing gastric from colorectal and esophageal adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol. 2020 Feb;11(1):45-54.
30. Lentsch G, Valdebran M, Sakrite I, Smith J, Linden KG, Konig K, Barr RJ, Harris RM, Tromberg BJ, Ganesan AK, Zachary CB, Kelly KM, Balu M. Non-invasive optical biopy by multiphoton microscopy identifies the live morphology of common melanocytic nevi. Pigment Cell Melanoma Research. 2020 Jun 2.
31. Ruiz-Vega R, Chen CF, Razzak E, Vasudeva P, Kraseiva TB, Shiu J, Caldwell MG, Yan H, Lowengrub J, Ganesan AK, Lander AD. Dynamics of Nevus Development implicate cell cooperation in the growth arrest of melanocytic nevi. Elife. 2020 Oct 13;9:e61026.
32. Habowski AN. Flesher JL. Bates JM. Tsai CF. Martin K. Zhao R. Ganesan AK. Edwards RA, Shi T. Wiley HS. Shi Y. Hertel KJ. Waterman ML. Transcriptomic and proteomic signatures of stemness and differentiation in the colon crypt. Commun Biol. 2020 Aug 19;3(1):453. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01181-z.
33. Fast A. Lai A. Durkin AF. Lentsch G. Harris RM. Zachary CB. Ganesan AK. Balu M. Fast, large area multiphoton exoscope (FLAME) for macroscopic imaging with microscopic resolution of human skin. Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 22; 10(1):18093. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75172-9.
34. Mobasher P. Shiu J. Lentsch G. Ganesan AK. Comparing the Efficacy of 2 Different Harvesting Techniques for Melanocyte Keratinocyte Transplantation in Vitiligo. Dermatologic Surgery: 2021 May 1;47(5):732-733.
35. Vu T. Vallmitjana A. Gu J. La K. Xu Q. Flores J. Zimak J. Shiu J. Hosohama L. Wu J. Douglas C. Waterman ML. Ganesan A. Hedde PN. Gratton E. Zhao W. Spatial transcriptomics using combinatorial fluorescence spectral and lifetime encoding, imaging and analysis. Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):169.
36. Jahid S. Ortega JA. Vuong LM. Acquistaspace IM. Hachey SJ. Flesher JL. La Serra MA. Brindani N. La Sala G. Manigrosso J. Arencibia JM. Bertozzi SM. Summa M, Bertorelli R. Amirotti A. Jin R. Liu Z. Chen CF. Edwards R. Hughes CCW. De Vivo M. Ganesan AK. Structure-based Design of CDC42 Effector Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. Cell Reports. In 2022 Apr 5;39(1):110641.
37, La Serra MA, Vidossich P, Acquistapace I, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Alchemical Free Energy Calculations to Investigate Protein-Protein Interactions: the Case of the CDC42/PAK1 Complex. J Chem Inf Model. 2022 Jun 27;62(12):3023-3033.
38. Shiu J. Zhang L. Lentsch G. Flesher JL. Polleys C. Jo SJ. Mizzoni C. Mobasher P. Kwan J. Ruis-Diaz F. Tromberg BJ. Georgakoudi I. Nie Q. Balu M. Ganesan AK. Multimodal Analysis of Vitiligo Skin Identifies Tissue Characteristics of Stable Disease. JCI Insight 2022 Jul 8;7(13):e154585.
39, Ganesan AK, Taylor TH, Kraus CN. Association of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus with Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer. JAAD Int. 2022 Jul 22;9:26-27.
40. Rosmarin D, Passeron T, Pandya AG, Grimes P, Harris JE, Desai SR, Lebwohl M, Ruer-Mulard M, Seneschal J, Wolkerstorfer A, Kornacki D, Sun K, Butler K, Ezzedine K; TRuE-V Study Group. Two Phase 3, Randomized, Controlled Trials of Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo. N Engl J Med. 2022 Oct 20;387(16):1445-1455.
41. Ezzedine K, Peeva E, Yamaguchi Y, Cox LA, Banerjee A, Han G, Hamzavi I, Ganesan AK, Picardo M, Thaçi D, Harris JE, Bae JM, Tsukamoto K, Sinclair R, Pandya AG, Sloan A, Yu D, Gandhi K, Vincent MS, King B. Efficacy and safety of oral ritlecitinib for the treatment of active nonsegmental vitiligo: A randomized phase 2b clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Feb;88(2):395-403.
42. Brindani N, Vuong LM, Acquistapace IM, La Serra MA, Ortega JA, Veronesi M, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Design, Synthesis, In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization of CDC42 GTPase Interaction Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer. J Med Chem. 2023 Apr 27;66(8):5981-6001.
43. Gu J, Jian H, Wei C, Shiu J, Ganesan A, Zhao W, Hedde PN. A Low-Cost Modular Imaging System for Rapid, Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Detection in Clinical Tissues. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 10;24(8):7008
44. Wang X, Ramos R, Phan AQ, Yamaga K, Flesher JL, Jiang S, Oh JW, Jin S, Jahid S, Kuan CH, Nguyen TK, Liang HY, Shettigar NU, Hou R, Tran KH, Nguyen A, Vu KN, Phung JL, Ingal JP, Levitt KM, Cao X, Liu Y, Deng Z, Taguchi N, Scarfone VM, Wang G, Paolilli KN, Wang X, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Davis RT, Greenberg EN, Ruiz-Vega R, Vasudeva P, Murad R, Widyastuti LHP, Lee HL, McElwee KJ, Gadeau AP, Lawson DA, Andersen B, Mortazavi A, Yu Z, Nie Q, Kunisada T, Karin M, Tuckermann J, Esko JD, Ganesan AK, Li J, Plikus MV. Signalling by senescent melanocytes hyperactivates hair growth. Nature. 2023 Jun;618(7966):808-817.
45. Geels SN, Moshensky A, Sousa RS, Murat C, Bustos MA, Walker BL, Singh R, Harbour SN, Gutierrez G, Hwang M, Mempel TR, Weaver CT, Nie Q, Hoon DSB, Ganesan AK, Othy S, Marangoni F. Interruption of the intratumor CD8+ T cell:Treg crosstalk improves the efficacy of PD-1 immunotherapy. Cancer Cell. 2024 Jun 10;42(6):1051-1066.e7.
46. Shiu J, Lentsch G, Polleys CM, Mobasher P, Ericson M, Georgakoudi I, Ganesan AK, Balu M. Noninvasive Imaging Techniques for Monitoring Cellular Response to Treatment in Stable Vitiligo. J Invest Dermatol. 2024 Apr;144(4):912-915.e2.
47. Ramos R, Swedlund B, Ganesan AK, Morsut L, Maini PK, Monuki ES, Lander AD, Chuong CM, Plikus MV Parsing patterns: Emerging roles of tissue self-organization in health and disease. Cell. 2024 Jun 20;187(13):3165-3186.
48. Brindani N, Vuong LM, La Serra MA, Salvador N, Menichetti A, Acquistapace IM, Ortega JA, Veronesi M, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Girotto S, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. Discovery of CDC42 Inhibitors with a Favorable Pharmacokinetic Profile and Anticancer In Vivo Efficacy. J Med Chem. 2024 Jun 27;67(12):10401-10424.
49. Hamzavi, IH. Ganesan, AK. Mahmoud, BH. Weiss, E. Ahmed, AM. Robinson, D. Goldman, MP. Munavalli, G. Kahn, SA. Huang, V. Waibel, J. Desai, A. Elbuluk, N. Desai, S. Pandya, AG. Effective and durable repigmentation for stable vitiligo: A randomized within-subject controlled trial assessing treatment with autologous skin cell suspension transplantation, J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 Sep 7:S0190-9622(24)02713-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.08.027.
50. Xiao H, Shiu J, Chen CF, Wu J, Zhou P, Telang SS, Ruiz-Vega R, Edwards RA, Nie Q, Lander AD, Ganesan AK. Uncovering minimal pathways in melanoma initiation. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):5369. Epub 20250626. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60742-0. PMC12202705.
51. Vuong LM, Hachey S, Shiu J, Xie DF, Salvador N, Brindani N, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Pham R, Ku VSH, Limbekar SD, Nguyen T, Choi B, Hughes CCW, De Vivo M, Ganesan AK. CDC42-effector interaction inhibitors alter patterns of vessel arborization in skin and tumors in vivo. iScience. 2025 Jul 14;28(7):112971. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112971. eCollection 2025 Jul 18. PMC12432855.
52. Vallmitjana A, Durkin AF, Dvornikov A, Torrado B, Kelly KM, Shiu J, Ganesan AK, Balu M, "Label-free multiphoton microscopy of human skin: longitudinal studies capturing cell dynamics," Biomed. Opt. Express 16, 3912-3922 (2025)
53. Torrado B, Vallmitjana A, Ranjit S, Far-Hadian M, Durkin AF, Dvornikov A, Ganesan AK, Kelly KM, Chang P, Balu M. “In vivo human skin imaging: Distinguishing cellular and fibrillar components with fluorescence lifetime microscopy.” J Invest Dermatol. 2026 May;146(5):1434-1438.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.10.612. Epub 2025 Nov 19.
54. Pandya AG, Mahmoud BH, Huggins RH, Ganesan AK, Silverberg NB, Munavalli G, Weiss E, Zubair R, Lal K, Jensen JD, Skelsey MK, Ezra N, Siperstein R, Noell C, Grekin SK, Hamzavi IH. “Autologous cell harvesting device provides repigmentation and improves quality-of-life for patients with stable vitiligo lesions in a large and diverse patient population.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025 Aug;93(2):378-386. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.03.066. Epub 2025 Mar 28.PMID: 40158537
55. Ganesan AK, Ezzedine K, Hanna S, Rashighi M, Seneschal J, Goss SL, Schlosser BJ, Hu X, He T, Crouthamel M, Camp HS, Passeron T. “Three-dimensional imaging for facial vitiligo: Results from a phase 2 randomized controlled trial investigating upadacitinib in patients with vitiligo.” J Invest Dermatol. 2026 Jan 28:S0022-202X(26)00037-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.12.036.
56. La Serra MA, Yadav A, Ganesan AK, De Vivo M. “Recent advances in CDC42 subfamily inhibition and therapeutic potential.” Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2026 May 21:S0165-6147(26)00088-X. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2026.04.004. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42168045.
PATENTS
1. Ganesan AK, White MA, Farmer P. Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitors as Novel Depigmenting Agents. US Patent Number No. 14/322,837, Issued July 2014
2. De Vivo M, Ganesan AK, Martinez JAO, Jahid S. Compounds and Compositions for the Treatment of Cancer, Retinal Disorders, and Cardiomyopathies. Patent Filing Number 102017000047189. Issued 12/10/21.
Grants
Pfizer | "A Phase 2B Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety Profile of PF-06551600 with a Partially Blinded Extension Period to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of PF-06651600 and PF-06700841 in Subjects with Active Non-Segmental Vitiligo" | Role: Co-Investigator | 07/01/2019-10/01/2020
Dermavant | A Phase 2a, Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Systemic Exposure of Cerdulatinib Gel, 0.37% in Adults with Vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 11/01/2019-12/15/2020
InCyte | "A Phase 3, Randomized, Double Blind, Vehicle Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy of Ruxolitinib for Adults and Children with Vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 07/01/2020-07/01/2021
Immune Tolerance Network | "A Phase 2A, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy of IL-15 monoclonal antibodies for Adults with Vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 01/01/2021-12/30/2023
Avita Medical, Inc. | "A Prospective, Multi-Arm Blinded Evaluator Within-Subject Randomized Controlled Clinical Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of RECELL for Repigmentation of Stable Vitiligo Lesions" | Role: Principal Investigator | 01/01/2021-12/30/2022
InCyte | "A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study of the Efficacy and Safety of INC054707 Followed by an Extension Period in Participants with Vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 11/01/2021-12/30/2022
Abbvie | "A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Subjects with Non-Segmental Vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 12/01/2021-12/30/2022
InCyte | "A Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Mechanism of Action of Ruxolitinib Cream for Vitiligo (TRuE-V MOA)" | Role: Principal Investigator | 01/20/2022-01/20/2023
InCyte | "A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, 52-week, placebo-controlled, efficacy and safety of povorcitinib in participants with nonsegmental vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 04/01/2024-Present
InCyte | "A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial for ruxolitinib in pediatric patients with vitiligo" | Role: Principal Investigator | 05/01/2025-Present
Teva | "A Phase 1b, Open-Label Trial to Assess Safety and Efficacy of TEV-53408 in Participants with Vitiligo" |Role: Principal Investigator | 10/01/2025-Present
Department of Defense | "The Intravital Imaging of Melanoma Tumors for Mechanism Discovery and Patient Surveillance after Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy" | Goal: Imaging of immune responses in melanoma tumors | Role: MPI
NIAMS | "Skin Biology Resource-Based Center at UCI" | Goal: The major funding for this effort is to support search cores that advance skin biology research at UC Irvine and beyond. I manage the imaging core of the grant, focused on developing new methods to image skin disease. | Role: MPI
NCI 5P30CA062203-21 | "Cancer Center Support Grant" | Goal: The Cancer Center Support Grant provides support for administration and infrastructure for the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. | Role: Program Leader
"Development of a Fast Scanning, Extended Field-of-View Multiphoton Microscope for Clinical Skin Imaging" | Goal: Develop a fast scanning, wide field-of-view MPM imaging platform with unique technical features and a compact footprint optimized for label-free dynamic imaging of human skin with sub-cellular resolution | Role: MPI
NCI P01CA288662-01A1 | "Tipping Points in Cancer" | Goal: The Center will foster scientific research and outreach focused on advancing the hybrid field of cancer systems biology. Collaborative, interdisciplinary projects will use animal models, genome-wide analysis, and mathematical modeling to address fundamental questions about cancer progression and metastasis with tipping point theory. Projects focused on breast cancer, melanoma and leukemia, and will be complemented by pilot studies and diverse scientific outreach activities. These projects are not overlapping with projects supported for other groups. | Role: Co-Leader, Project 2
LEO Foundation | "Identifying new molecularly targeted treatments for rosacea" | Goal: Our group recently identified a role for small GTPases in driving skin vascularization as well as small molecules that inhibit GTPase function. The goal of this work is to examine whether these approaches can be used to treat rosacea. | Role: PI | Project Number: LF-OC-24-001837
NIH K12TR006003-01 | "ICTS Mentored Career Development Core" | Goal: The goal of this grant is to support the training of investigators at UC Irvine in translational science. This award supports the training of 4 junior investigators at any one time over the period of the next 5 years. | Role: MPI
Professional Societies
Global Vitiligo Foundation
Pan American Society for Pigment Cell Research
Society for Investigative Dermatology
American Academy of Dermatology
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Research Centers
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cancer Research Institute
Center for Cancer Systems Biology
UCI Skin
Institute for Immunology
Stem Cell Research Center
Beckman Laser Institute
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5705
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5705
Last updated
07/22/2026
07/22/2026