World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
59
Citations
11149
World Ranking
12676
National Ranking
5404

Overview

Zalfa A. Abdel-Malek is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati in the United States and has contributed extensively to research in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and medicine. Their scholarly output includes work primarily focused on the dynamics of melanin and skin pigmentation, skin protection and aging, and related biochemical analysis and sensing techniques.

Their research spans several specialized subfields including cell biology, dermatology, nutrition and dietetics, sensory systems, and biochemistry. This multidisciplinary approach is reflected in the variety of topics they have explored, such as melanin and skin pigmentation, skin protection and aging, biochemical analysis and sensing techniques, olfactory and sensory function studies, phytochemicals and antioxidant activities, wound healing and treatments, and cancer, lipids, and metabolism.

The scientist has published a range of papers in prominent journals. Notable recent publications include:

  • The enigma and challenges of vitiligo pathophysiology and treatment, 2020, Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
  • Participation of keratinocyte- and fibroblast-derived factors in melanocyte homeostasis, the response to UV, and pigmentary disorders, 2021, Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
  • Light or Dark Pigmentation of Engineered Skin Substitutes Containing Melanocytes Protects Against Ultraviolet Light-Induced DNA Damage In Vivo, 2020, Journal of Burn Care & Research
  • Differential Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species and Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes in Human Melanocytes Correlate with Melanin Content: Implications on the Response to Solar UV and Melanoma Susceptibility, 2022, Antioxidants
  • Development of hMC1R Selective Small Agonists for Sunless Tanning and Prevention of Genotoxicity of UV in Melanocytes, 2021, Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Abdel-Malek frequently collaborates with other researchers, including:

  • Parth R. Upadhyay
  • Viki B. Swope
  • Shosuke Ito
  • Kazumasa Wakamatsu
  • Tina Ho

The majority of their research has been published in journals such as Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Journal of Burn Care & Research, and Antioxidants. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research stands out as a primary venue with five publications, indicating a focus on the molecular and clinical aspects of pigmentation and melanoma.

Best Publications

  • Cellular senescence in naevi and immortalisation in melanoma: a role for p16?

    V C Gray-Schopfer;S C Cheong;H Chong;J Chow

  • Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis

    Itaru Suzuki;Roger D. Cone;Sungbin Im;James Nordlund

  • Melanocytes as Instigators and Victims of Oxidative Stress

    Laurence Denat;Ana L. Kadekaro;Laurent Marrot;Sancy A. Leachman

  • What are melanocytes really doing all day long

    Przemyslaw M. Plonka;Thierry Passeron;Michaela Brenner;Desmond J. Tobin

  • alpha-Melanocortin and endothelin-1 activate antiapoptotic pathways and reduce DNA damage in human melanocytes.

    Ana Luisa Kadekaro;Renny Kavanagh;Hiromi Kanto;Silva Terzieva

  • Interleukins 1α and 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α are paracrine inhibitors of human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis

    Viki B Swope;Zalfa Abdel-Malek;Lina M Kassem;James J Nordlund

  • Mesenchymal–epithelial interactions in the skin: increased expression of dickkopf1 by palmoplantar fibroblasts inhibits melanocyte growth and differentiation

    Yuji Yamaguchi;Satoshi Itami;Hidenori Watabe;Ken Ichi Yasumoto

  • Human melanocortin 1 receptor variants, receptor function and melanocyte response to UV radiation.

    M. Cathy Scott;Kazumasa Wakamatsu;Shosuke Ito;Ana Luisa Kadekaro

  • Melanocortin receptors: their functions and regulation by physiological agonists and antagonists.

    Abdel-Malek Za

  • Agouti Signaling Protein Inhibits Melanogenesis and the Response of Human Melanocytes to α-Melanotropin

    Itaru Suzuki;Akihiro Tada;Michael M. Ollmann;Gregory S. Barsh

  • MC1R and the response of melanocytes to ultraviolet radiation

    Francois Rouzaud;Ana Luisa Kadekaro;Zalfa A. Abdel-Malek;Vincent J. Hearing

  • Cutaneous photobiology. The melanocyte vs. the sun: who will win the final round?

    Ana Luisa Kadekaro;Renny J. Kavanagh;Kazumasa Wakamatsu;Shosuke Ito

  • MC1R, the cAMP pathway, and the response to solar UV: extending the horizon beyond pigmentation

    Jose C García-Borrón;Zalfa Abdel-Malek;Celia Jiménez-Cervantes

  • α‐MSH activates immediate defense responses to UV‐induced oxidative stress in human melanocytes

    Xiuzu Song;Nicole Mosby;Jennifer Yang;Aie Xu

  • Activation of the cyclic AMP pathway by alpha-melanotropin mediates the response of human melanocytes to ultraviolet B radiation.

    Sungbin Im;Osamu Moro;Fuping Peng;Estela E. Medrano

  • Endothelin-1 Is a Paracrine Growth Factor That Modulates Melanogenesis of Human Melanocytes and Participates in Their Responses to Ultraviolet Radiation'

    A. Tada;I. Suzuki;Sungbin Im;M. B. Davis

  • Influence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and of ultraviolet radiation on the transfer of melanosomes to keratinocytes

    Victoria M. Virador;Jacqueline Muller;Xufeng Wu;Zalfa A. Abdel-Malek

  • Comparison of the responses of human melanocytes with different melanin contents to ultraviolet B irradiation.

    Diane Barker;Kathleen Dixon;Estela E. Medrano;Douglas Smalara

  • Significance of the melanocortin 1 receptor in regulating human melanocyte pigmentation, proliferation, and survival.

    Ana Luisa Kadekaro;Hiromi Kanto;Renny Kavanagh;Zalfa A. Abdel‐Malek

  • The melanocortin-1 receptor is a key regulator of human cutaneous pigmentation.

    Zalfa Abdel-Malek;M. Cathy Scott;Itaru Suzuki;Akihiro Tada

Frequent Co-Authors

Vincent J. Hearing
Vincent J. Hearing National Institutes of Health
George F. Babcock
George F. Babcock University of Cincinnati
Shosuke Ito
Shosuke Ito Fujita Health University
Kazumasa Wakamatsu
Kazumasa Wakamatsu Fujita Health University
Raymond E. Boissy
Raymond E. Boissy University of Cincinnati
Gregory S. Barsh
Gregory S. Barsh Stanford University
Dorothy C. Bennett
Dorothy C. Bennett St George's, University of London
Jack L. Arbiser
Jack L. Arbiser Emory University
Martin A. Weinstock
Martin A. Weinstock Brown University
Richard A. Sturm
Richard A. Sturm University of Queensland

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