About Us
The Melasma Research & Treatment Institute is dedicated to addressing one of the most common & challenging pigmentary disorders affecting millions worldwide - particularly women & individuals with darker skin tones.
Despite its prevalence, melasma remains widely misunderstood. While significant treatment advances have been made, relapses are often universal. The Melasma Research & Treatment Institute seeks to bridge the gap by combining expert clinical care with pioneering research to develop long-lasting, effective & durable treatment strategies.
Our Institute is comprised of a coalition of clinicians, researchers & clinical staff dedicated to advancing our understanding of the diverse causes of melasma & developing new treatments producing sustained remission. We ultimately seek a cure for melasma. Our work continues until this condition is behind us.
Our vision: Excellence. Experience. Expanding knowledge. Innovation.
Until once and for all, the burden of melasma is truly undone.
Pearl E. Grimes, M.D.
Founder & Director of The Melasma Research & Treatment Institute. Dr. Grimes is a globally recognized dermatologist & a leading international authority on vitiligo, melasma & other pigmentary disorders. Additionally, she is the Founder & Director of the Vitiligo & Pigmentation Institute of Southern California. She also serves as a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California - Los Angeles. She has authored over 175 publications.
Dr. Grimes has pledged a commitment to finding a cure & winning the fight against melasma. This vision led her to create The Melasma Research & Treatment Institute, & to partner with other scientists who are driven to join her in the fight.
Dr. Grimes is an active member of multiple professional organizations - including The American Academy of Dermatology, The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery & others, as well as the past President of the Global Vitiligo Foundation. Dr. Grimes holds numerous achievements in dermatology, including: The American Skin Association Research Achievement Award, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award, the Everett C. Fox, MD Memorial Award & Lectureship, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Skin Association, the Vic Narurkar Innovation in Aesthetics Award, the Rose irschler Award, the Richard E. Fitzpatrick, MD Aesthetics Award, & the prestigious 2025 John Kenney, Jr. MD Lifetime Achievement Award & Lectureship from the American Academy of Dermatology.
Advisory Board
Tim McCraw, PhD
Tim McCraw is the Founder and CEO of Skin Science Advisors, LLC (SkinSci), a consulting firm he launched in 2016 to bring cutting-edge science and strategy to the skincare and cosmetics industry. SkinSci focuses on helping small and mid-sized businesses in the United States and South Korea thrive through novel concept development, robust product design, technology exchange, and manufacturing partnerships. The firm also provides fractional CTO and CSO services, giving clients executive-level leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire. Before founding SkinSci, Tim built a global career as an executive with CIBA-Geigy (now Novartis) and Kimberly-Clark Corporation, spending most of his time in the U.S. while also leading initiatives for ten years based in Seoul, South Korea.
Tim’s journey is anchored by a strong academic foundation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wofford College and went on to complete a doctorate in chemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Tim and his team continue to guide companies at the intersection of innovation, science, and international collaboration, pushing boundaries to help the skincare and cosmetics industry achieve its next breakthrough.
Seemal Desai, M.D.
Dr. Seemal Desai is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology. He is the Founder & Medical Director of Innovative Dermatology, and Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Dr. Desai is the author of over a hundred publications and has been invited to present at countless national and international Dermatology events. His clinical expertise includes the treatment of vitiligo, and other disorders of pigmentation, psoriasis, acne, skin disease in skin of color, cosmeceuticals, and new drug therapies. Dr. Desai was recently President of the American Academy of Dermatology, and is the youngest dermatologist to ever be elected AAD President. In June of 2025, Dr. Desai began his term as President of the Global Vitiligo Foundation. In 2017, and again in 2021, Dr. Desai was appointed to serve on the US Food & Drug Administration, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC), and is the only dermatologist on this federal hearing committee. He has given over 150+ lectures nationally and internationally, and is passionate about advocacy and advancement of our specialty.
Jag Bhawan, M.D.
Jag Bhawan received his M.D. degree from Maulana Azad Medical College (1968) and a doctorate degree in Pathology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India (1972). He trained in Pathology and Dermatopathology at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA (1973-75), prior to joining the University of Massachusetts Medical School as the head of Dermatopathology and Assistant Professor of Pathology (1975). He was promoted to the rank of tenured professor in 1985. He also trained in Dermatology at the combined Boston University/Tufts Dermatology program (1980-83) before joining the faculty of Boston University in 1986. He has published over 265 original articles, written several book chapters and co-authored an interactive dermatopathology atlas online. Jag Bhawan serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Dermatopathology. Since 2009 Dr. Bhawan is a member of The Chester S. Keefer, MD Society at Boston University School of Medicine for recognition of his generous contributions and commitment to the institution.
Mona A. Gohara, M.D.
Dr. Gohara is a Clinical Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology. She also sees patients in a private practice located near New Haven, CT.
Mona is an active member of The American Academy of Dermatology, where she has chaired the Social Media Task Force and Member Communications Committee, and The Women’s Dermatologic Society, where she served as President. She has been published in multiple peer review journals in dermatology. Mona serves or has served on the advisory boards of ELLE, Women’s Health, Shape, Fitness, Prevention, and Good Housekeeping magazines, and has contributed to GoodHousekeeping.com, ELLE.com, Essence.com, Shape.com, and People.com, while frequently serving as a medical expert for other mainstream media outlets.
Mona spends additional time educating the public on skin health, skin cancer, skin of color, and sun protection. She is active in pigmentary disorders, contributes to the Global Vitiligo Foundation, and has been key in organizing Camp Victory for Children with Vitiligo.
Murali Duvvuri, PhD
Dr. Duvvuri is a pharmaceutical scientist with over 21 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with strong leadership skills as related to project management, team building, and creative problem solving. He received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has experience leading development projects for a wide range of molecules, indications, routes of administration and dosage forms. Dr. Duvvuri has been part of several teams successfully developing compounds for various indications starting with lead optimization through drug substance and drug product clinical/commercial development as well as analytical development. His responsibilities also include preparing CMC modules for regulatory submissions (i.e. INDs, IMPDs and NDAs).
Michael A. Pietrangelo, J.D.
Michael A. Pietrangelo has been a director of the Universal Insurance Holdings since March 2010. Since 1998, Mr. Pietrangelo has practiced law and has been of counsel to the firm of Pietrangelo Smith, PLC. Mr. Pietrangelo is admitted to the bars of the states of New York and Tennessee and the District of Columbia. He served on the board of directors of MRI Interventions Inc., a publicly traded research and development company, from 2010 to 2014. More recently, through 2020, Mr. Pietrangelo served as the President and Managing Director of The Theraplex Company, LLC, a privately held skin care company. He brings valuable experience to the Board in corporate governance, legal and financial matters as a result of his positions as a lawyer, executive and director of privately held and public companies, as well as nonprofit organizations.
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