- IPC GENERAL
- IPC News
Andrew Blauvelt, MD, MBA
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
IPC Board Member
- Andrew Blauvelt received his medical degree from Michigan State University and a healthcare MBA from Oregon Health & Science University.
- Blauvelt is an investigator at Oregon Medical Research Center (OMRC), a small business dedicated to performing high-quality clinical research studies in dermatology.
- He is also an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the International Eczema Council (IEC) and, in 2023, became Chair of the Medical Board for the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), an organization he has worked with for over 20 years.
- Blauvelt was appointed to the IPC Board Member in 2022 and became an IPC Councilor in 2011. He is a member of the IPC Disease Severity Working Group and the IPC Finance Committee.
Dr. Andrew Blauvelt initially aspired to become a biomedical engineer, but his fascination with biology and physiology led him to pursue a career in medicine. His journey into dermatology began with a transformative summer job alongside Dr. Chuck Ellis at the University of Michigan. Notably, Dr. Blauvelt’s father, who suffered from severe psoriasis and was a patient of Dr. Ellis, facilitated this life-altering opportunity. Dr. Blauvelt and Dr. Ellis worked on psoriasis clinical trials during the formative years of their careers.
Dr. Blauvelt encountered another influential mentor, Dr. Steve Katz, during his dermatology training at the University of Miami. Through luck, Dr. Katz’s nephew, Matt Katz, introduced them. Dr. Blauvelt accepted Dr. Katz’s invitation to join his laboratory at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, to work on HIV-related research.
"From my father to my wife to many areas of psoriasis-related research and care, one can clearly see the huge impact that psoriasis has had on both my personal and professional life."
— Andrew Blauvelt, MD, MBA
Completing a four-year immunology fellowship under Dr. Katz’s mentorship, Dr. Blauvelt remained a faculty member at the NIH, where he ran the HIV dermatology lab for eight years. Collaborating with Dr. Maria Turner, another critical mentor, Dr. Blauvelt initiated a clinical research fellowship program at the NIH, focusing on psoriasis research. His research interests shifted to psoriasis, spurred by his collaboration with Dr. Turner and IPC Councilor Dr. Alexa Kimball, the program’s first fellow.
In 2003, Dr. Blauvelt’s life took a significant turn when he met his wife, Molly, at a National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) meeting. Relocating to Portland to be with Molly marked a new chapter in his professional career. Joining Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) as a Professor of Dermatology and Immunology, Dr. Blauvelt shifted his research focus to psoriasis, leading to significant contributions in both basic science and clinical aspects of the disease. He established OHSU’s Center of Excellence for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, a pioneering clinic for comprehensive patient care.
In 2011, Dr. Blauvelt transitioned to Oregon Medical Research Center (OMRC), a private clinical trials business, where he served as President and Owner for ten years. Under his leadership, OMRC emerged as a leading dermatology clinical trial center, spearheading pivotal psoriasis trials. Dr. Blauvelt’s expertise positioned him as a trusted scientific advisor to pharmaceutical companies, reflecting his extensive research experience.
Outside his professional commitments, Dr. Blauvelt is passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations like the IPC and the NPF. He became an IPC Councilor in 2011 and joined the NPF Board of Directors in 2022. In 2023, Dr. Blauvelt was appointed Chair of the Medical Board for the NPF, a testament to his dedication to psoriasis research and patient care. Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Blauvelt acknowledges the profound impact of psoriasis on both his personal and professional life, shaped by familial connections and his commitment to psoriasis-related research and care.
