CMBH INVESTIGATOR SPOTLIGHT
An editorial series highlighting investigators, scientific leadership, and opportunities for meaningful clinical research collaboration.
FEATURED INVESTIGATOR · DERMATOLOGY
Advancing dermatology through clinical research
Dr. Glynis Ablon is a board-certified dermatologist, associate clinical professor at UCLA, and founder of the Ablon Skin Institute & Research Center in Manhattan Beach, California. Established in 2008, her independent research center specializes in dermatology clinical trials, with experience spanning medical therapeutics, aesthetic medicine, devices, and hair restoration.
In an October 2026 interview with Dermatology Times, Dr. Ablon discussed regenerative approaches to skin and hair care, combination energy-device strategies, exosomes, AI imaging, and current hair-loss research. These are publicly discussed research interests; this profile does not claim that any particular trial is presently enrolling or sponsored through CMBH.
INVESTIGATOR SPOTLIGHT · PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP
Plastic surgeon and principal investigator · Physician leader, Unity Site Network
Dr. Dev is a board-certified plastic surgeon and principal investigator. He leads site development for Unity Site Network and oversees day-to-day operations across participating sites.
He manages other physicians at multiple sites and has experience running multi-site clinical trial operations, including work alongside SerenaGroup.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
INVESTIGATOR SPOTLIGHT · TECHNICAL PARTNER
Founder and CEO, SerenaGroup · Advancing evidence in wound healing
Dr. Thomas E. Serena founded SerenaGroup, a physician-led clinical research organization specializing in wound healing. His career spans multicenter clinical trials, wound diagnostics, advanced wound therapies, and the development of research infrastructure.
According to his published conference faculty biography, Dr. Serena has served as lead or principal investigator in more than 150 clinical trials and has authored hundreds of scientific publications. These figures are attributed to his biography rather than independently audited by CMBH.
SerenaGroup's 2025 to 2026 publication library describes work on cellular, acellular, and matrix-like products (CAMPs), wound diagnostics, diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and clinical-trial methodology. These publications do not establish that any particular study is currently recruiting.
Relationship to CMBH: SerenaGroup is an independent company and CMBH's technical CRO partner. See the Partners page.
RESEARCH & SOURCES
SerenaGroup research publications library
2025 wound diagnostic imaging publication (PubMed)
SerenaGroup leadership and clinical research
Research focus: Wound healing, tissue-based therapies, diagnostic technologies, multicenter clinical trials, evidence development.
RESEARCH LEADER SPOTLIGHT
Independent editorial recognition of clinicians and scientists whose published work advances migraine, hair loss, dermatology and autism research.
Migraine and headache medicine
Dr. Blumenfeld is a headache specialist whose clinical research includes onabotulinumtoxinA treatment for chronic migraine and other preventive approaches, including work on treatment protocols and outcomes in patients with difficult-to-manage headache disorders.
Why featured: His research highlights how established treatments can be rigorously evaluated and refined for real-world clinical needs.
Alopecia and hair-loss research
Dr. Mesinkovska's work connects clinical dermatology with the development of treatments for alopecia areata and other hair disorders, including research on JAK-pathway therapies and on treatment needs across different patient groups.
Why featured: Her research helps translate advances in immune-mediated hair loss into clinically evaluated treatment options.
Alopecia and inflammatory skin disease
Dr. King is a prominent clinical investigator in the development of targeted JAK-inhibitor treatments for alopecia areata. He contributed to clinical research supporting multiple approved medicines, including baricitinib, ritlecitinib and deuruxolitinib.
Why featured: His trial contributions illustrate how rigorous clinical research can change the treatment landscape for severe autoimmune hair loss.
Autism and applied behavior analysis
Dr. Granpeesheh has contributed to research evaluating applied behavior analysis and technology-supported interventions for autistic children, including published randomized research on a language-learning application.
Why featured: Behavioral interventions also require meaningful outcome measurement, study design and evidence to inform families and care teams.
Autism and neurodevelopmental research
Dr. Erickson has investigated potential therapies and biomarkers in autism and Fragile X syndrome, including studies of investigational medications.
Why featured: His work shows the continuing need for carefully evaluated, individualized approaches in neurodevelopmental conditions.
Autism and neurodevelopmental research
Dr. McDougle has contributed to controlled clinical studies of pharmacologic treatments for symptoms associated with autism, including irritability and behavioral challenges.
Why featured: His work reflects the progress made in symptom-focused treatments. Dr. Erickson and Dr. McDougle are listed together by field; this does not imply a shared study.
Migraine neuroscience and therapeutics
Dr. Goadsby has played a central role in modern migraine research, including landmark trials of therapies targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). He was lead author of a pivotal published erenumab preventive-treatment trial.
Why featured: His work connects fundamental headache science with trials that helped establish a major new class of migraine preventives.
Migraine research and epidemiology
Dr. Lipton is known for major epidemiologic research on migraine prevalence, disability and disease burden, as well as clinical trials of acute and preventive treatments. He led a published Phase 3 trial of oral rimegepant for acute migraine.
Why featured: His work shows how population-level evidence and therapeutic trials together can shape better approaches to a widespread disabling condition.
Headache medicine
Dr. Ailani led the published ADVANCE Phase 3 trial of atogepant for prevention of episodic migraine and has contributed to studies of preventive options for chronic migraine.
Why featured: Well-designed preventive-treatment trials offer practical advances for patients whose migraine disrupts work and family life.
Headache medicine
Dr. Tepper has participated in clinical research evaluating a broad range of migraine therapies, including CGRP-targeted medicines and other acute and preventive approaches.
Why featured: His publications have contributed to how clinicians assess the effectiveness and tolerability of evolving treatments.
These are independent editorial listings based on publicly available information. Inclusion does not imply affiliation with, participation in, or endorsement of CMBH. Study roles are as described in published articles and should be confirmed before any promotion. Publication links are author-name searches and may include other authors with the same name. To request a correction or removal, contact CMBH.
SPOTLIGHT CALENDAR
Celebrating researchers advancing clinical medicine across independent and academic settings.
| October 2026 | Dr. Vipul Dev | Wound care and reconstructive surgery |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Dr. Glynis Ablon | Dermatology and clinical trials |
| December 2026 | Dr. Thomas Serena | Wound healing and clinical research |
| January 2027 | Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska | Alopecia research |
| February 2027 | Dr. Brett King | Hair-loss therapeutics |
| March 2027 | Dr. Craig Erickson and Dr. Christopher McDougle | Autism clinical research |
| April 2027 | Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh | Behavioral interventions and ABA |
| May 2027 | Dr. Peter Goadsby | Migraine research |
| June 2027 | Dr. Richard Lipton | Migraine therapeutics |
| July 2027 | Dr. Jessica Ailani | Headache medicine |
| August 2027 | Dr. Stewart Tepper | Migraine clinical trials |
| September 2027 | Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld | Migraine and neuromodulators |
| October to December 2027 | Future investigators | To be selected |
The calendar is an editorial plan, not a record of past publication dates and not an indication of CMBH affiliation. Future features are planned and subject to verification and approval.
Profiles are compiled from publicly available sources. To request a correction or removal, contact CMBH.