Meet the leaders behind AID, the people driving our mission to transform dermatologic health through innovation. In this new article series, we’re highlighting the visionaries on our board who are shaping the future of skin health. Each profile offers a behind-the-scenes look at what inspires them, the opportunities they see on the horizon, and how they’re working to support the next generation of innovators in dermatology.
We’re kicking off the series with Dr. Steve Xu, a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, and national leader in digital health innovation. Dr. Xu is the CEO and cofounder of Sibel Health, a company born from cutting-edge academic research and now operating in over 20 countries across six continents. He also serves as the Ruth K. Freinkel, MD, Professor and Medical Director of the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics at Northwestern University. With over 130 peer-reviewed publications, multiple patents, and technologies that have secured four FDA clearances, Dr. Xu has a proven track record of translating breakthrough science into real-world impact.
Not only is Dr. Xu a member of AID’s board of trustees, but also Co-Founder and Managing Director of the AID Accelerator Program. Dr. Xu is deeply committed to building a stronger pipeline of transformative dermatology products, bringing a unique perspective at the intersection of academia, technology, and clinical care, and a powerful belief that skin health is both a reflection and predictor of overall health. His insights on AI, clinical development, and innovation ecosystems offer a glimpse into what’s possible when the right minds and resources come together.
Read on to learn what drives Dr. Xu, what he sees as the most exciting opportunities in dermatologic health, and why he believes AID is uniquely positioned to catalyze lasting change.
What personally drew you to AID and its mission?
The future of every specialty is tied to future innovations in therapeutics, diagnostics, and services to improve care for patients. Dermatology is no different. I feel that AID serves an incredibly important niche in fostering new innovations that link early scientific and technology breakthroughs at academic medical centers with commercial development and industry. The overall goal is to support our patients.
Where do you see the biggest opportunity to change the future of dermatologic health?
There are a few things I'm really excited about.
From your perspective, what does the next generation of dermatology innovators need most right now?
AI has become a supercharger for everyone - dermatologists are no different. Knowledge that would take weeks, months, or years to gain is now readily available. Coding is available to everyone. Prototypes can be made with no technical experience anymore. I think this will only highlight the importance of clinical insight to determine which problems are the most pressing and worth solving.
When you think of the impact AID could have in 10 years, what do you envision?
I am really excited about our micro-fund - I think it's just the start to help catalyze 5-10 great new companies. I think that will help demonstrate how AID, as a non-profit, can catalyze breakthrough product development in this space. The other area is just to convene great people twice yearly at our conference. The innovation journey is a lonely one - creating a community really helps with progress and the burden.
To learn more about the AID Accelerator Program and how it’s supporting breakthrough dermatology innovations, visit our page.
