Mrinal K Sarkar, PhD
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About
Mrinal Sarkar, PhD, is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Michigan. He is a member of the Skin Immunology and Autoimmunity Research Program and serves as Associate Director of the Functional Analytics Core within the U-M Skin Research Center.
Dr. Sarkar’s research focuses on the functional characterization of genetic variants involved in psoriasis and other autoimmune skin diseases.
He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India, in 2010 and completed postdoctoral training in the U-M Department of Human Genetics. Dr. Sarkar joined Dr. Johann Gudjonsson’s laboratory in Dermatology in 2014, was appointed Research Investigator in 2016, promoted to Assistant Research Scientist in 2020, and advanced to Associate Research Scientist in 2025.
Research Overview
• Psoriasis
• Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)
• Keratinocytes
• Type I Interferons
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Interferon kappa
Recent Publications
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Jiang R, Kirma J, Fox J, Xing X, Wang J, Sarkar MK, Bogle R, Do T, Coon A, Cole C, Plazyo O, Rew JE, Zhang H, Kahlenberg JM, Billi AC, Bachelez H, Tsoi LC, Harms PW, Shao S, Chen X, Gudjonsson JE. Nature Communications, 2026 Dec 1; 17 (1):Journal ArticleDynamic neutrophil-keratinocyte communication network centered on IL-36/TNFSF15 responses characterizes inflammatory responses in generalized pustular psoriasis
DOI:10.1038/s41467-025-67917-9 PMID: 41436466 -
Gupta R, Chinchole A, Paul NP, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE, Verma A, Rao R. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2026 Aug 17;Journal ArticleInsulin-Regulated Actin Dynamics is Disrupted in a Human Keratinocyte Model of Hailey Hailey Disease.
DOI:10.1152/ajpcell.00372.2026 PMID: 42605981 -
Sarkar MK, Coon A, Jiang R, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson JE. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s10Proceeding / Abstract / Poster0060 A sex-biased IFN-κ–IL-36 axis in keratinocyte-driven inflammation in generalized pustular psoriasis
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.091 -
Bogle R, Balaji A, Lee H, Cha H, Coon A, Dong Y, Wu Y, Cai Y, Zhang H, Qin T, Patrick M, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE, Duan B, Tsoi L. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s19Proceeding / Abstract / Poster0108 IL-31–induced EDN2 links keratinocytes to sensory neuron activation in prurigo nodularis
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.139 -
Schmidt K, Tiwaa A, Parihar A, Coon A, Wilkes P, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE, Simpson CL. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s99Journal Article0576 Keratin 5 is essential for modulating ERK signaling to coordinate keratinocyte morphogenesis during epidermal differentiation
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.607 -
Cohen E, Xu Y, Ghodke S, Orosco A, Wang D, Johnson CN, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE, Marchal L, Hovnanian A, Parent C, Coulombe PA. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 23; 146 (8): s102Journal Article0593 Keratin 16 spatially inhibits type I interferon responses in stressed and diseased skin
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.624 -
Coon A, Cole C, Mamidi B, Jiang R, Simpson CL, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s106Proceeding / Abstract / Poster0615 A scalable strategy for immortalizing primary human keratinocytes using hTERT and CDKN2A disruption
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.646 -
Ayers JL, Tiwaa A, Parihar A, Martin M, Tam CJ, Pence K, Aravind A, Sutter N, Sarkar MK, Gudjonsson JE, Simpson CL. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s168Journal Article0972 Hailey-Hailey disease model reveals dual MEK and ROCK inhibition as a therapeutic strategy
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.1003
