GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Psoriasis: Mechanisms Beyond Weight Loss
Advisor: Monica Isquith
Internship Location: Tamjidi Skin Institute
Onsite Mentor: Dr. Patricia Lucey
Psoriasis affects approximately 125 million people worldwide, yet treatment options remain limited and often unaffordable. Recent evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications approved for diabetes and weight management, may effectively treat psoriasis through both metabolic improvements and direct immunomodulation. Existing research is limited which leaves uncertainty whether these drugs work primarily through weight loss or through direct anti-inflammatory mechanisms. I plan to investigate whether GLP-1 RAs directly reduce inflammation in psoriasis patients or if weight loss is the primary driver of improvement. Working with dermatologist Dr. Patty Lucey at her practice in Vienna, Virginia, I will conduct a systematic literature review and analyze de-identified patient charts, comparing outcomes between patients using GLP-1RAs and those receiving standard treatments. If I discover that GLP-1RAs provide therapeutic benefits beyond weight loss, this research could validate a more affordable treatment option for millions of psoriasis patients.
Project Blog
Post 1: Why Psoriasis and GLP-1? The Beginning of My Senior Project
When I first began thinking about my Senior Project, I knew I wanted to explore something at the intersection of biology, medicine, and real-world impact. Throughout high school, I’ve been especially drawn to how chronic diseases develop, not just as isolated conditions, but as systems-level problems influenced by metabolism, environment, and lifestyle. Thanks to my gastroenterologist father and dermatologist mother, I have had a great amount of exposure to both. That curiosity ultimately led me to psoriasis and the emerging role of GLP-1 medications.
Psoriasis is often described as a skin condition, but the more I researched it, the more I realized it is much more than that. It is a systemic inflammatory disease closely linked to obesity and metabolic dysfunction. And GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications originally developed for type 2 diabetes and now widely used for weight loss, have transformed how we approach metabolic health. This led to my research question: Can medications designed to regulate metabolism also reduce inflammatory disease severity and how does this benefit the patient?
This project allows me to explore that connection. By analyzing clinical trials and existing research, I will investigate whether GLP-1–associated weight loss improves psoriasis severity and patient quality of life. More importantly, I’m examining what this relationship reveals about the deeper connection between metabolic health and immune function.
Through this project, I hope to strengthen my skills in scientific analysis and critical evaluation of medical literature. I also hope to better understand how emerging therapies can reshape treatment approaches for chronic diseases. Ultimately, I want to walk away not just with research findings, but with a clearer understanding of how complex systems in the body interact and how medicine can address them more holistically. This is just the beginning of my exploration, and I’m excited to see where the data leads.
Week 1: Planning the Project: Building a Schedule and Defining My Approach
As my Senior Project begins to take shape, one of the first and most important steps has been working closely with my advisor to organize a clear plan for how the project will progress. Because my topic involves analyzing medical research and exploring connections between metabolic health and psoriasis, we started by creating a structured schedule that breaks the project into different phases. Together, we discussed how much time to dedicate to background research, reviewing the scientific literature, organizing findings, and ultimately preparing my final presentation. Having a clear timeline has helped make the project feel more manageable and ensures that I stay on track throughout the trimester.
Another key focus of these early meetings has been determining the best approach to my research question. Since I will not be conducting my own clinical trial, my project will primarily rely on a literature-based analysis. This means I will be reviewing randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to psoriasis, weight loss, and GLP-1 medications. By analyzing clinical measures such as the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and patient quality-of-life scores, I can better understand how weight loss and metabolic treatments may influence psoriasis severity. This approach allows me to examine existing clinical evidence while developing stronger skills in reading and evaluating scientific research.
While planning the project, I also started thinking about additional angles that could make the research more comprehensive. One area I am considering exploring further is how GLP-1 medications compare to more traditional psoriasis treatments in terms of cost and overall benefits. Psoriasis treatments range from topical medications and phototherapy to biologic drugs, many of which can be very expensive. Because GLP-1 medications are also known for their high cost, it could be interesting to look at how these treatments compare, not only in terms of effectiveness but also in accessibility and overall health benefits.
This potential comparison would not replace the main focus of my project but rather add another layer of analysis. Looking at both clinical outcomes and economic factors could provide a broader perspective on treatment approaches and what they mean for patients in real-world settings.
At this stage, the project is still evolving, and these early conversations with my advisor have been essential in shaping how I plan to move forward. Research is rarely a straight path, and part of the process is refining ideas, adjusting methods, and considering new questions along the way. As I continue developing my methodology and gathering sources, I’m excited to see how the project grows and what insights I might uncover.
Week 2: Getting Hands On
This week was an exciting step forward in my Senior Project because I was able to go in person and spend more time learning directly in the clinical environment. Being there allowed me to move beyond just planning and research and to actually see how things work in practice. The first thing I did was meet with my advisor to discuss my project plan in more detail. We talked through the direction of my research, the types of data I might look for, and how I can continue refining my methodology as I gather more information.
The next day, I was practicing scribing for Dr. Tamjidi. This gave me a glimpse into how dermatology visits are documented and how physicians track patient symptoms, treatments, and progress. Scribing requires careful attention to detail and quick thinking, as you must accurately record what is happening during the appointment while keeping up with the visit's pace. Practicing this skill helped me better understand the clinical side of dermatology and how patient information is organized and used in real medical settings.
I also spent time learning how the clinic’s systems and programs work. Understanding how the apps that they use organize patient records is important, especially since it allows providers to track diagnoses, treatments, and patient histories. With guidance, I began reviewing the system to identify patients with psoriasis, which could provide context for my research and show how commonly the condition appears in a dermatology practice.
Overall, this week helped connect the research side of my project with the real-world clinical environment. Seeing how dermatologists work with patients, document cases, and manage information gave me a much better understanding of the field. It also reinforced why studying psoriasis and potential treatment approaches is important, since it’s a condition that many patients deal with on a daily basis.
Week 3: Continuing to Learn in the Clinic
This week, I returned to the clinic to continue shadowing and building on what I have been learning. Each time I go in, I gain a better understanding of how dermatology practices operate and how physicians and physician assistants work with patients in a real clinical setting.
One of the most helpful parts of this week was being able to work with several different providers in the office, including Dr. Lukaszewski, Dr. Tamjidi, Dr. Ahmadi, and Dr. Coyle. Each of them took time to talk with me about my project and offer their perspectives. I also got the opportunity to shadow them as they worked with patients. Hearing from multiple clinicians was valuable because they each have different experiences treating psoriasis and managing patient care. Their insights helped me think more critically about my research question and how treatments are actually used in practice.
Outside of the clinic, I spent time continuing my literature research. I read and analyzed several new scientific sources related to psoriasis, weight loss, and GLP-1 medications. Looking through these studies helped me start identifying patterns in the research, as well as some of the limitations and unanswered questions that still exist in this area.
Even though this week was more focused on observation and research, it was still an important step in the project. The conversations with clinicians and the time spent analyzing sources are helping me refine my understanding of the topic and shape the direction of my research moving forward.
Week 4: Expanding My Research and Patient Outreach
This week marked an important shift in my project from mostly observation and research into more direct patient-focused work. One of the main things I worked on was identifying additional patients who have both psoriasis and experience with GLP-1 medications. With guidance, I learned how to navigate the clinic’s system more efficiently to filter for relevant diagnoses and treatment histories. This process helped me better understand how patient data is organized and how specific populations can be identified for research purposes.
In addition to finding patients, I spent time carefully planning out the questions I would be asking during patient outreach. I wanted to make sure that my questions are clear, respectful, and actually useful for my project. The questions focus on areas such as changes in psoriasis severity after starting GLP-1 medications, any noticeable improvements in symptoms, impacts on quality of life, and overall satisfaction with treatment. I also considered including questions about side effects and accessibility, since those factors can play a major role in treatment decisions. Thinking through these questions made me realize how important it is to gather both clinical and personal perspectives when looking at treatment effectiveness.
I also continued scribing, which has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience so far. Each day, I am exposed to a wide range of dermatological cases, from benign body exams to skin cancer diagnoses. This has helped me become more comfortable with medical terminology and better understand how providers assess, diagnose, and treat different skin conditions. In particular, seeing multiple psoriasis cases in real time has reinforced how variable the condition can be from patient to patient, which directly connects to my research.
Overall, this week felt like a step forward in making my project more interactive and applied. Between preparing for patient outreach and continuing to gain clinical exposure through scribing, I am starting to connect research, data, and real patient experiences in a much more meaningful way.
Week 5: Same Setting, New Perspective
At first glance, this week looked a lot like the last: same clinic, same systems, same routine. But the more time I spend here, the more I realize that no two days are actually the same. What felt repetitive at the beginning is starting to feel like real immersion, where I’m not just observing anymore, I’m understanding.
I continued identifying patients with both psoriasis and GLP-1 experience, but this time it felt more intentional. Instead of just searching through charts, I started recognizing patterns: how psoriasis presents differently depending on the patient, what treatments tend to be paired together, and even how frequently metabolic conditions show up alongside skin disease. It made everything I’ve been reading in research articles feel a lot more real.
I also refined the questions I plan to ask patients, focusing not just on clinical improvements, but on how they actually feel. It’s one thing for a study to report a drop in a severity score, but it’s another to hear whether someone feels more confident, more comfortable, or more in control of their condition. That shift in perspective made me realize that my project isn’t just about data, it’s about people.
Scribing continues to be one of the fastest-paced and most eye-opening parts of my experience. I’m getting quicker, more accurate, and more comfortable with medical terminology, but more importantly, I’m starting to anticipate how visits will go. I can follow the flow of a patient encounter, from initial concern to diagnosis to treatment plan, and understand the reasoning behind each step. Watching a wide range of cases unfold in real time has made me appreciate how much decision-making goes into even a single appointment.
Even though the structure of my week hasn’t changed much, my mindset definitely has. What once felt like repetition now feels like depth. I’m not just doing the same things; I’m getting better at them, noticing more, and starting to connect everything. And honestly, that’s where it starts to get really interesting.
Week 6: Connecting with Others
This week, instead of just planning and researching, I started finalizing my list of patients that I’m going to reach out to. I spent time making sure the list is accurate and relevant, specifically focusing on patients who have both psoriasis and experience with GLP-1 medications, so that the information I gather will actually support my research in a meaningful way. Even though my group size is small, it is better than nothing!
I worked on figuring out exactly what I’m going to say when I call them. This was harder than I expected because I wanted to make sure I sounded professional, clear, and respectful, while also asking questions that gave me useful insight. I’ve been drafting and refining how I introduce myself, explain my project, and guide the conversation so patients feel comfortable sharing their experiences. A big focus has been on asking about real-life impact, like changes in their symptoms, quality of life, and overall satisfaction with their treatment. While I have been at the office, I have noticed all different severities of psoriasis, so I see how challenging they can be.
I also continued scribing and shadowing, which is still one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. Being in the room for so many different patient visits is helping everything click a lot more. I’m getting faster at scribing and more familiar with how providers think through cases, especially with psoriasis and other chronic conditions.
One of the most exciting updates this week is that I’ve decided to incorporate a documentary into my project. I’ve been talking with my mentor and starting to brainstorm ideas for what that could look like: how to tell a story, what perspectives to include, and how to make it both informative and engaging. The last thing I would want to do is have a boring and meaningless video. I’m still in the early stages, but I think this could be a really cool way to bring my project to life beyond just research and data. I feel that videos grab your audience's attention more if made properly.
Week 7: Slow Week Out ofTown
This week was a bit different since I was out of town, so I wasn’t able to be in the clinic or keep up with my usual schedule. Even though I didn’t get as much hands-on experience as usual, I still made progress in smaller but important ways.
One of the main things I focused on was finishing the questions I plan to ask the patients. I took more time to think through how I want the conversations to flow and what kind of responses would be most useful for my project. I needed to make sure I was able to get enough information without invading the patients' privacy and making them uncomfortable. I worked on making the questions clear, concise, and focused, not just on symptoms, but also on personal experiences. Stuff like changes in daily life, confidence, and overall being. I plan on calling the patients this week.
I also stayed in contact with people from the office and my mentor to continue developing ideas for my documentary. Even though we’re still in the early planning stages, we started talking more about how we want to structure it and what direction it could take. I’ve been thinking about how to make it engaging while still keeping it informative and relevant to my research.
Overall, this week was definitely slower, but it still felt productive in a different way. I can't wait to be back this week!
Week 8: Progress Concluding
This week was all about finalizing my approach and starting to take action on my writing. After talking things through with my mentor and considering patient communication more carefully, we decided that email would be the best method for reaching out. It’s less intrusive than calling and gives patients more time to respond thoughtfully. Because of that, I’ve started drafting and sending emails to patients, introducing my project and asking about their experiences with psoriasis and GLP-1 medications. In this email, I introduce myself and my project and have all my questions written out. This feels like a big step forward since I’m finally beginning to collect real responses. Time is running out so I am hoping to get responses ASAP.
Alongside that, I’ve continued spending time on research, especially PubMed to find more relevant studies. I’ve been reading a lot of articles that focus on psoriasis treatments, weight loss, and GLP-1 medications, and trying to compare their findings. This has helped me strengthen my understanding of the topic and also identify which sources are the most useful for my project. I had previously found a lot of articles so I needed to narrow my list down.
I also worked on a draft of my report this week. It’s still in progress, but I’ve been slowly building it out and organizing my ideas into a more structured format. Working on the paper as a whole has helped me see how everything connects, from clinical research to patient perspectives.