Dr Aaron Hughes
BIOGRAPHY
​Dr Aaron Hughes trained as an undergraduate at UCL Medical School. He undertook post graduate training in general medicine and Dermatology across London's most prestigious teaching hospitals. These include St George's Hospital, the Royal London Hospital and Guy's & St Thomas'.
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Dr Hughes was awarded a competitive grant from the Medical Research Council to spend 3 years carrying out laboratory research at Bart's and the London Medical School. His research identified mechanisms behind eczema and has been presented internationally. He was awarded a PhD for this work.
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Dr Hughes undertook additional training in male genital skin dermatology at UCLH, a world renowned centre for male genital skin disease. He has since set up a specialist clinic for these patients in his NHS trust.
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Dr Hughes' NHS practice is at the Royal Free Hospital.
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Dr Hughes has over 20 academic publications and has presented research internationally in Amsterdam, Milan, Berlin and Madrid. He has received numerous prizes and academic awards for his work, including the prestigious Meyerstein Scholarship for overall performance during his undergraduate medical degree.
PUBLICATIONS
• Theresa Tachie-Menson, Aaron Hughes, Edel O’Toole, Ryan O’Shaughnessy, P15 Understanding the role of cathepsin H in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 190, Issue 6, June 2024, Pages e85 e86 • Hughes AJ, Barbosa E, Cernova J, Thomas BR, O'Shaughnessy RFL, O'Toole EA. Loss of Function Filaggrin Mutations are Associated with Reduced History of Acne Vulgaris in a Cohort of Bangladeshi Atopic Eczema Patients in East London. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2024 May 15:llae185. doi: 10.1093/ced/llae185. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38747172. • McCarthy RL, Tawfik SS, Theocharopoulos I, Atkar R, McDonald B, Dhoat S, Hughes A, Thomas B, O’Toole E. Vitamin D deficiency and atopic dermatitis severity in a Bangladeshi population living in East London: a cross-sectional study. Skin Health Dis. 2024;e358. • Tachie-Menson T, Azizah A, Hughes A and O'Shaughnessy R (2023). P27 Uncovering the roles of lysosomal protease cathepsin H in atopic dermatitis. Oxford University Press (Oup) British Journal of Dermatology vol. 189, (1) e24-e25. 10.1093/bjd/ljad174.048 • Hughes A, Barbosa E, Cernova J, Thomas B, O’Toole E and O'Shaughnessy R (2023). P102 Severe atopic eczema is associated with reduced acne vulgaris in Bangladeshi children and young adults: a retrospective analysis from a cross-sectional study. Oxford University Press (Oup) British Journal of Dermatology vol. 188, (Supplement_4) 10.1093/bjd/ljad113.130 • Rebecca L McCarthy, Bjorn R Thomas, Soha S Tawfik, Ravinder Atkar, Bryan McDonald, Sasha Dhoat, Aaron Hughes, Edel O’Toole, PA07 (P65) Vitamin D deficiency is associated with atopic dermatitis severity in a Bangladeshi population living in the UK, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 188, Issue Supplement_4, June 2023 • Rebecca L McCarthy, Bjorn R Thomas, Soha S Tawfik, Ravinder Atkar, Bryan McDonald, Sasha Dhoat, Aaron Hughes, Edel O’Toole, P65 Vitamin D deficiency is associated with atopic dermatitis severity in a Bangladeshi population living in the UK, British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 188, Issue Supplement_4, June 2023 • Tachie-Menson T, Azizah A, Hughes A and O'Shaughnessy R (2023). 770 AKT1-dependent protease control of skin barrier function and inflammation in atopic dermatitis. Elsevier Journal of Investigative Dermatology vol. 143, (5) 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.779 • Thomas BR, Tan XL, Van Duijvenboden S, Hogan SC, Hughes AJ, Tawfik SS, Dhoat S, Atkar R, Robinson EJ, Rahman SR, Rahman S, Ahmed RA, Begum R, Khanam H, Bourne EL, Wozniak EL, Mein CA, Kelsell DP, O'Toole EA. Deep palmar phenotyping in atopic eczema: patterns associated with filaggrin variants, disease severity and barrier function in a South Asian population. Br J Dermatol. 2023 May 24;188(6):785-792. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad036. PMID: 36840480. • Hughes AJ, Thomas B, O'Toole EA, O'Shaughnessy R. Reduced FLG expression in atopic eczema reduces expression of key barrier genes and increases BMP signalling JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. 142: S211-S211. Dec 2022 • Tawfik S, Baruah K, Hughes A, Thomas B, O-Shaughnessy R, Toole EO. Carbonylated proteins as markers of oxidative stress and their association with filaggrin genotype in atopic eczema BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. 187: 14-14. Jul 2022 • Hughes A, Thomas B, O'Toole E, O'Shaughnessy R. Reduced filaggrin expression is associated with increased BMP signalling BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY. 186: E221-E222. Jun 2022 • Hughes AJ, Thomas B, O'Toole EA, O'Shaughnessy R. Increased BMP Signalling Correlates with Increased Eczema Severity JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. 141: S170-S170. Oct 2021 • Hughes AJ, Tawfik SJ, Baruah KP, O’Toole EA, O’Shaughnessy RFL. Tape Strips in Dermatology Research. Br J Dermatol. 2021 Jul;185(1):26-35. PMID: 33370449. • Bhadresha S, Hughes AJ, McMahon L, Reeken S, Natkunarajah J. Fixed drug eruption secondary to Adalimumab. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2021 Mar;46(2):366-368. PMID: 33448464. • Frewen J, Hughes AJ, Denny J, Narkunarajah N. Lipodermatosclerosis of the penduolous abdomen. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2020 Jul;45(5):626-627. PMID: 32141633 • Shuber E, Hughes AJ, Natkunarajah J. Giant Scabetic Plaques. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2020 Jul;45(5):587-589. PMID: 31749248 • Qureshi F, Hughes AJ, Natkunarajah J. Methotrexate for Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2020 Mar;45(2):241-243. PMID: 31111514 • Hughes A, Samarasinghe V, Abdul-Wahab A. Chronic knee ulcer secondary to Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Australasian Journal of Dermatology. 2019 Nov;60(4):325-326. PMID: 30982946 • Hughes A, French M, Ah-Weng A, Singh M. Diffuse and strong TTF-1 positivity in a combined Merkel cell carcinoma. American Journal of Dermatopathology. Am J Dermatopathol. 2020 Mar;42(3):229-231. PMID: 31107682. • Hughes A, Tull TJ, Semkova A, Calonje E, Stefanato CM. An enlarging nodule on the shin. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2018 Jul;43(5):627-629. PMID: 29508412 • Hughes A. Infections of the Skin: core reading material and associated higher order thinking assessments for the Postgraduate Diploma in Dermatology: Middlesex University, London and Rila Institute of Health Sciences, London (2017) • Aref-Adib M, Lambd B W, Lee H B, Akinnawo E, Raza M M A, Hughes A, Mehta V S, Odonde I R, Yoong W. Stem cell therapy for stress urinary incontinence: a systematic review in human subjects. Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 2013; 266(6), 1213-1221. PMID: 24077813 • Hughes A. Making the most of Foundation Year 1. BMJ Careers. 2013 (August 23rd) • Hughes A, Hoffman J and Hoffman A. Vitamin D and sun exposure: to bare all or cover up?. Expert Review of Dermatology. 2012; 7(6), 495-497 • Hughes A. Sunscreens: more harm than good? A controversy worth addressing. Expert Review of Dermatology. 2012; 7(2), 113-115
ACADEMIC AWARDS
• Clinical Research Training Fellowship, Medical Research Council, 2019 • British Association of Dermatologists Travel Fellowship, 2019 • World Congress of Dermatology Scholarship, 2019 • Distinction in Clinical Practice, Phase 3 MBBS, 2012 • Distinction in Clinical Sciences, Phase 2 MBBS, 2011 • Certificate of Merit, Women’s Health and Communicable Diseases Year 4 MBBS, 2011 • Certificate of Merit, Clinical Neuroscience Year 4 MBBS, 2011 • Certificate of Merit, Child and Family Health with Dermatology Year 4 MBBS, 2010 • Certificate of Merit, Year 3 MBBS, 2010 • Dean’s List (Biomedical Sciences Faculty), 2009 • UCL Faculty Undergraduate Scholarship for Excellence, 2008 • Distinction in Medical Sciences, Phase 1 MBBS, 2008 • Meyerstein Scholarship for aggregate performance Years 1 and 2 MBBS, 2008 • Certificate of Merit, Year 2 MBBS, 2008 • Certificate of Merit, Year 1 MBBS, 2007
PRIZES
• Best Presentation, British Society of Investigative Dermatology, 2022 • Best Paediatric Case Presentation, South West Thames, 2018-2019 • The Elizabeth Higgins Prize, St John’s Dermatology Society, 2018-2019 • Monthly Registrar Prize, St John’s Dermatology Society, May 2019 • Monthly Registrar Prize, St John’s Dermatology Society, March 2019 • Monthly Registrar Prize, Dermatology Section, The Royal Society of Medicine, November 2018 • Best Registrar Presentation, South West Thames regional Dermatology meetings, 2017-2018 • National Institute for Health Research/British Association of Dermatologists Taster/Visit Award 2018 • Foundation Leadership Merit Award, North Central Thames Foundation School, 2012-2013 • Foundation Trainee of the Year Award, 3rd place, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, 2012-2013 • Geoffrey Chinnock Jones, James McIntosh and Lucy Chaplin Prize for Pathogenesis and Prevention of Disease, Year 5 MBBS, 2012 • UCL Medical School Dermatology Essay Prize, joint 2nd place, 2011 •The Chick, Constantine, Atchison, Evans and Swann Prize for overall performance in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Year 4 MBBS, 2011 • Dr Katharina Dalton Prize in Women’s Health, Year 4 MBBS, 2011 • 3M Healthcare Student Elective Award, 2011 • British Medical and Dental Students’ Trust Travel Scholarship, 2011 • A J Clark Prize for Pharmacology BSc, 2009 • Cluff Memorial Prize for overall performance in Year 2 MBBS, 2008 • Mrs George M Smith & Walter Culverwell Prize for Movement and Musculoskeletal Biology, Year 2 MBBS, 2008 • Charles Bell, Mrs George M Smith & Gladys Sandes Prize for Neuroscience, Year 2 MBBS, 2008
RESEARCH
ECZEMA
The focus on my PhD was on eczema and how a gene called Filaggrin predisposes our skin to eczema and food allergies.
ACNE
I've also explored how our genetics can predispose us to acne which has offered new insights into this condition.
THE SKIN BARRIER
My research looked at how our skin forms a barrier to protect it from our external environment. Moisturisers are a simple way to improve our skin barrier but new research is leading to other ways to protect our skin.
