Elisabeth Pedersen MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology on the tenure track. Dr. Pedersen is a physician-scientist building a research program focused on understanding the mechanisms of cellular behavior within the tumor microenvironment, in basal cell carcinoma and other skin cancers, located in the Rogel Cancer Center. She sees patients in the Multidisciplinary Cutaneous Oncology clinic at the Taubman Center and Rogel Cancer Center.

Dr. Pedersen's research interests include understanding carcinogenesis and tumor progression through a lens of developmental biology. She is investigating how normal and malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment interact to promote tumor progression. In particular, she is studying the role of melanocytes in the tumor microenvironment and how their behavior mimics normal hair follicle biology. She is also pursuing developing preclinical models to better study rare cancers and sarcomas including dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Dr. Pedersen is currently investigating how normal and malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment interact to promote tumor progression. She is also developing preclinical models to better study rare sarcomas including dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.