Pierre Coulombe, PhD
Cell & Developmental Biology
3062 Biomedical Sciences Research Bldg.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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About
Dr. Pierre A. Coulombe, a native of Montréal, Québec, Canada, serves as the G. Carl Huber Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is jointly appointed in the Department of Dermatology and is a member of the Rogel Cancer Center, and the Center for Plasticity and Organ Design, at the same institution. Dr. Coulombe joined U-M in 2017 following a 25 year-stay on faculty, including 9 years as the EV McCollum Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Coulombe’s research is focused on cell differentiation, tissue homeostasis and response to stress in surface epithelia. His research is relevant to the pathophysiology of rare skin disorders, psoriasis and related conditions, and non-melanoma skin cancer. Besides research, Dr. Coulombe has a long standing passion for graduate and post-graduate education and training, and with the Pachyonychia Project, a patient and rare disease advocacy group.
Links
Cell & Developmental Biology Lab website twitter
Qualifications
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Postdoctoral FellowUniversity of Chicago, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Chicago, United States
1988 - 1992
Postdoctoral Research
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PhD, PharmacologyUniversité de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1982 - 1987
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BScUniversité du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1979 - 1982
Center Memberships
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Center MemberFrankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health
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Center MemberCenter for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
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Center MemberRogel Cancer Center
Research Overview
- Cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis in surface epithelia
- Regulation of inflammation and innate immunity
- Structure, properties, and function of intermediate filaments
- Role of keratin proteins in signaling pathways and in the nucleus
- Role of keratin proteins in tumor inception and growth
Recent Publications
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Parent C, Arya SB, Xu Y, Coulombe PA. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s30Journal Article0172 Co-secretion of leukotriene B4-synthesizing exosomes and nuclear DNA by activated neutrophils promotes the resolution of acute inflammation in skin
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.203 -
Steiner S, Horst E, Johnson CN, Sprecher E, Samuelov L, O'Toole E, Mehta G, Bartolome RI, Coulombe PA. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s96Journal Article0556 Keratin 9 regulates YAP1 signaling in palmoplantar epidermis
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.587 -
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 -
Sinha D, Coulombe PA, Parent C. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 22; 146 (8): s173Journal Article1001 Role of vimentin intermediate filaments in neutrophil function
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.06.1032 -
Ceccacci S, Roger K, Marchal L, Ragot H, Schwartz J, Coulombe PA, Guerrera IC, Hovnanian A. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2026 Jul 1; 146 (7): 1906 - 1917.e5.Journal ArticleProteomics reveals altered lipid biosynthesis and keratin hyperphosphorylation in pachyonychia congenita
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.01.011 PMID: 41581590 -
Pineda C, Cohen E, Su B, Yeom J, Kim J, Lee CH, Coulombe PA. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2026 May 1; 37 (5): ar41Journal ArticleA role for Keratin 17 in Rac1-mediated DNA damage response in keratinocytes
DOI:10.1091/mbc.E25-05-0238 PMID: 41880216 -
Cohen E, Xu Y, Ghodke S, Orosco A, Wang D, Johnson CN, Steen K, Sarkar MK, Özlü N, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson JE, Marchal L, Hovnanian A, Parent CA, Coulombe PA. Science Translational Medicine, 2026 Apr 8; 18 (844):Journal ArticleKeratin 16 inhibits type I interferon responses in differentiating keratinocytes of stressed and diseased skin
DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.adx9123 PMID: 41950305 -
Redmond CJ, Steiner SN, Cohen E, Johnson CN, Özlü N, Coulombe PA. Journal of Cell Biology, 2026 Mar 2; 225 (3):Journal ArticleKeratin 15 promotes a progenitor cell state in basal keratinocytes of skin epidermis
DOI:10.1083/jcb.202503046 PMID: 41511042
Featured News & Stories
Celebrating Scientific Journeys: Inside CDB’s 2026 Annual Celebration
New study hints at cause of pachyonychia congenita and a long-awaited potential treatment
New study hints at the cause of a painful skin condition—and at a long-awaited potential treatment
