Amy R. Vandiver, M.D., Ph.D.

Vandiver brings a clinical lens to her research on age-related skin disease. Through her work caring for aging patients at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, she sees firsthand how cellular aging impacts tissue health and patient well-being.

Her work focuses on mitochondrial genome mutations, which are among the most frequently reported molecular markers of aged and sun-damaged skin. By studying the distribution and functional impact of these mutations in human skin, Vandiver aims to uncover targets to prevent their accumulation and mitigate the consequences of mitochondrial genome damage in aging cells.

Vandiver employs advanced -omics techniques, including transcriptomics and long-read sequencing, to map mitochondrial changes at high resolution. By integrating molecular data with functional studies in induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPSC,-derived skin cells and 3D skin cultures, she aims to quantify tissue aging and identify interventional targets that improve cell function. Her ultimate goal is to develop therapeutic strategies that preserve or restore skin health and function in aging populations.