Manuela Pigors obtained her PhD from the University of Freiburg, where she investigated the molecular basis of rare genetic skin fragility disorders, such as epidermolysis bullosa, and their underlying pathomechanisms. Following her PhD, she was awarded a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship by the German Research Foundation (DFG) to investigate the genetic mechanisms of rare and common inflammatory skin diseases in the laboratory of Prof David Kelsell at Queen Mary University of London. The project led to identification of loss-of-function mutations in SERPINB8 in association with autosomal recessive exfoliative ichthyosis and new risk loci linked to atopic eczema.

Manuela joined the Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology in March 2019 to continue studying the molecular and translational aspects of inflammatory skin diseases and to acquire further expertise in autoimmune blistering disorders, with focus on pemphigoid diseases.