Edward De Fabo, PhD, MEd

Edward De Fabo is a Research Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.

• Phone: (202) 994-3975
• Fax: (202) 994-0409
• Email: drmecd@gwumc.edu

With all skin cancers on the rise, including melanoma, which is the most deadly variety, Professor De Fabo's longstanding studies of ozone depletion, the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the immune system and the environmental and genetic aspects of UV radiation on skin cancer have essential public health ramifications. One of the world's foremost experts on these topics, Dr. De Fabo established the Laboratory of Photobiology & Photoimmunology in 1985 and has since described some of the fundamental mechanisms by which UVB suppresses the immune system. Among his key accomplishments, Dr. De Fabo identified UVB as the active waveband responsible for inducing melanoma; established that UVA has no such effect; and identified urocanic acid as a sunlight-activated immune regulator.

As chair of two key advisory committees -- the International Arctic Science Committee and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment -- Professor De Fabo has led efforts to understand the impact of ozone depletion on human health and the biosphere. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including GW's Elaine H. Snyder Cancer Research Award on three separate occasions. In 1997, he was honored by the United Nations Environment Program for his outstanding contributions to protecting the ozone layer.

Education

Bachelor of Science (Biology), King's College, 1958
Master of Education, University of Virginia, 1974
Doctor of Philosophy (Photobiology), The George Washington University, 1974

Teaching

Professor De Fabo lectures to graduate and undergraduate students about the impact of ultraviolet radiation on skin cancer induction and immune suppression, and on global climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Research

Professor De Fabo combines special expertise in the production and measurement of light and in many different types of light-emitting sources with his expertise in cellular and molecular biology to his research interests in the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation. With other colleagues at GW and researchers at the National Institutes of Health, he collaborated in developing the first UV-induced melanoma animal model with human-like pathology and etiology.

Community Service

Dr. De Fabo is a member of leading professional associations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, and the major photobiology societies.

Departments

• Environmental and Occupational Health

Research Activities

• Mouse melanoma model
• Ultraviolet-induced immunosuppression
• Stratospheric ozone depletion and the Arctic

Publications

• Ultraviolet B but not ultraviolet A radiation initiates melanoma.
  De Fabo EC, Noonan FP, Fears T, Merlino G. Ultraviolet B but not ultraviolet A radiation initiates melanoma. Cancer Res 2004;64(18):6372-6.
• Ultraviolet-B radiation and stratospheric ozone loss: potential impacts on human health in the arctic.
  De Fabo EC. Ultraviolet-B radiation and stratospheric ozone loss: potential impacts on human health in the arctic. Int J Circumpolar Health 2000;59(1):4-8.
• Mice with genetically determined high susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV)-induced immunosuppression show enhanced UV carcinogenesis.
  Noonan FP, Muller HK, Fears TR, Kusewitt DF, Johnson TM, De Fabo EC. Mice with genetically determined high susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV)-induced immunosuppression show enhanced UV carcinogenesis. J Invest Dermatol 2003;121(5):1175-81.
• Animal models of melanoma: an HGF/SF transgenic mouse model may facilitate experimental access to UV initiating events.
  Noonan FP, Dudek J, Merlino G, De Fabo EC. Animal models of melanoma: an HGF/SF transgenic mouse model may facilitate experimental access to UV initiating events. Pigment Cell Res 2003;16(1):16-25.
• Ink4a/Arf deficiency promotes ultraviolet radiation-induced melanomagenesis.
  Recio JA, Noonan FP, Takayama H, Anver MR, Duray P, Rush WL, et al. Ink4a/Arf deficiency promotes ultraviolet radiation-induced melanomagenesis. Cancer Res 2002;62:6724-30.
• Neonatal sunburn and melanoma in mice.
  Noonan FP, Recio JA, Takayama H, Duray P, Anver MR, Rush WL, et al. Neonatal sunburn and melanoma in mice. Nature 2001;413:271-2.
• Stratospheric ozone depletion: UVB 'effects', the neglected aspect.
  De Fabo EC. Stratospheric ozone depletion: UVB 'effects', the neglected aspect. Int J Circumpolar Health 2000;59(1):2-3.