Valerie Horsley

Valerie Horsley, Ph.D., is a Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and of Dermatology at Yale University. She received her undergraduate degree from Furman University and her Ph. D. from Emory University. Her postdoctoral work in the laboratory of Elaine Fuchs at Rockefeller University explored intrinsic factors in epithelial stem cells that control tissue homeostasis. In 2009, she began her laboratory at Yale University in the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, and was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in 2016. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control tissue development and regeneration, using approaches such as mouse genetics, cell culture models, genomics, and microscopy. Dr. Horsley serves on the Board of Reviewing Editors for ELife and the Editorial Board for the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Valerie Horsley's research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue repair, stem cell dynamics, and adipose tissue biology. Her work explores the roles of fibroblasts, adipocytes, and myofibroblasts in wound healing and skin regeneration. Horsley investigates how signaling pathways such as NFAT and IL-4 regulate stem cell behavior and tissue homeostasis. Her studies also examine the contributions of adipose tissue to skin repair and the interactions between different cell types during physiological and pathological processes. Through single-cell transcriptomics and genetic models, she elucidates the cellular diversity and functional roles of adipose and connective tissue cells in health and disease.