Research

Musicians at Risk for Common Skin Condition

Whether you play a musical instrument in your school band, as a weekend hobby, or as a professional, you may be at risk for a common skin condition.

NEA Research Program

We are pleased to report three new research grant awards. Each of these grants focus on a different aspect of our research program: basic science, quality of life, and prevention. Thank you to our generous donors who make these research grants possible!

Research

Research section index

Clinical Research Trials

Would you like to participate in a clinical research trial? A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are safe and effective. Clinical testing is preceded by extensive laboratory research, and is normally done in three phases.

NEA Funded Grant Reports

The National Eczema Association provides grants for patient-oriented eczema research. Since 2004, NEA has funded research on topics of primary importance to the eczema sufferer: itch, infection, skin barrier function, prevention and psycho-social aspects of the condition. Many research projects funded by NEA have resulted in multimillion dollar funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is a tremendous return on our members' investments in NEA's research program!

NIH Scientists Discover Promising Target to Block Staphylococcus Infection

WHAT:  
National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists have identified a promising lead for developing a new type of drug to treat infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that frequently resists traditional antibiotics. The researchers discovered a system used byS. aureus to transport toxins that are thought to contribute to severe staph infections. These toxins—called phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs)—have gained much attention in recent years, but their multitude and diversity have hindered efforts to target them for drug development.

Expanding on work that first described S.

Eczema Linked to Gut Bacteria in Kids

Microarray analysis reveals marked intestinal microbiota aberrancy in infants having eczema compared to healthy children in at-risk for atopic disease

 
Background
Deviations in composition and diversity of intestinal microbiota in infancy have been associated with both the development and recurrence of atopic eczema. Thus, we decided to use a deep and global microarray-based method to characterize the diversity and temporal changes of the intestinal microbiota in infancy and to define specific bacterial signatures associated with eczema.

Prevalence and Impact of Past History of Food Allergy in Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract
Background: Increases in allergic diseases have been reported from various epidemiological surveys. However, a few reports demonstrate the comorbidity of food allergy (FA) and allergic march. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Japanese students. Methods: First-year students (n = 3,321; 2,209 male and 1,112 female) at Osaka University were asked about allergic diseases using postal interview sheets.

Fast Food Tied to Asthma, Eczema and Hay Fever in Kids

Study isn't conclusive, but it's another reason to make healthier choices, expert says

MONDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who eat fast food three or more times a week are likely to have more severe allergic reactions, a large new international study suggests.

These include bouts of asthma, eczema and hay fever (rhinitis). And although the study doesn't prove that those burgers, chicken snacks and fries cause these problems, the evidence of an association is compelling, researchers say.

"The study adds to a growing body of evidence of the possible harms of fast foods," said study

Recently Identified Immune Cells

Possible Therapeutic Target 
Implications

University of Pennsylvania study for treating the development and severity of atopic dermatitis

The increasing incidence of allergic skin diseases, and the accompanying economic burden and heightened risk of developing other allergic conditions, have spurred researchers to look for better ways to control these immune system-based disorders.

Atopic dermatitis, more commonly called eczema, now affects 10 to 20 percent of children in the United States and direct health-care costs exceed $3 billion, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and

Researchers Discover Genetic Basis for Eczema

New Avenue to Therapies

Eczema or Atopic dermatitis (AD) start with an itchy skin rash, but left untreated, can flare up across the entire body. Most sufferers    develop symptoms as infants and it affects millions of adults around the world. There is no cure. 
 
Managing this chronic illness means applying moisturizing lotions and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, which can have harmful side effects. A team led by Arup Indra, Associate Professor in the Dept.

Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care

Abstract:

The "acid mantle" is a topic not only of historical interest, but also of clinical significance and has recently been linked to vital stratum corneum function. Despite compelling basic science evidence placing skin pH as a key factor in barrier homeostasis, stratum corneum integrity, and antimicrobial defense, application of the acid mantle concept in clinical care is lacking. We review recent basic science investigations into skin pH, discuss skin disorders characterized by aberrant pH, and finally discuss practical application for preservation of the acid mantle.

Peanut Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Peanut Allergy

NIH-Funded Clinical Study is One of the First to Evaluate Sublingual Immunotherapy as a Peanut Allergy Treatment

A new study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) can reduce the allergic response to peanut in adolescents and adults. SLIT is a treatment approach in which, under medical supervision, people place a small amount of allergen under the tongue to decrease their sensitivity to the allergen.

Food Allergies? Pesticides in Tap Water Might be to Blame

Food allergies are on the rise, affecting 15 million Americans. And according to a new study published in the December 2012 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), pesticides and tap water could be partially to blame.

The study reported that high levels of dichlorophenols, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate water, when found in the human body, are associated with food allergies.

“Our research shows that high levels of dichlorophenol-containing pesticides can possibly weaken food

NIAID-Supported Study Suggests That Eczema and Egg Allergy May Precede Peanut Allergy

Early results from the NIAID-supported Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study show that severe eczema and egg allergy strongly predict risk for peanut allergy. These results may help identify infants who could most benefit from strategies aimed at preventing peanut allergy. 

The LEAP study, led by investigators in the United Kingdom, seeks to determine if introducing peanuts early in a child’s diet could prevent future peanut allergy.

Atopic Dermatitis was the Focus of a Conference at the 75th Anniversary of SID

This year’s meeting of the Society of Investigative Dermatology (SID), held in Raleigh, North Carolina, which marked the 75th anniversary of the society, included the first conference dedicated to atopic dermatitis. Drs. Lisa Beck, Professor of Dermatology at University of Rochester Medical Center, and Rebecca Minnillo Executive Director of the SID were instrumental in setting up this meeting.  The primary purpose was to begin to identify problems hindering progress in atopic dermatitis research and to establish a research network of like-minded investigators to begin to address these issues.

National Jewish Health Receives Grant to Provide Atopic Dermatitis Education to Denver Pediatric Clinics

National Jewish Health (NJH) has received an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to improve the care of pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis in a medically underserved population. The one-year $586,511 independent medical educational program grant from GSK will be used by NJH to train health care providers and team members from Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics (RMYC) to better diagnose and manage their atopic dermatitis patients, and ultimately improve patient care and quality of life in the Denver metropolitan area.

“Undiagnosed and untreated atopic dermatitis can have a crippling

The Persistence of Atopic Dermatitis and Filaggrin (FLG) Mutations in a US Longitudinal Cohort

Since the beginning of this century several studies have been published that have helped to revolutionize our understanding of the pathophysiology of AD. These studies have shown an association between genetic variation and AD.  Genes that have been implicated include genes that code proteins associated with skin barrier and genes that code proteins involved in immune function.

New Research Fuels Greater Understanding of Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis in Children and Adolescents

BOSTON (Aug. 16, 2012)  Information presented at American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting by Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, FAAD, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, chief, division of pediatric and adolescent dermatology and professor of pediatrics and medicine (dermatology), Rady Children’s Hospital and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.  Dr. Eichenfield is also a member of the National Eczema Association Scientific Advisory Committee.

OVERVIEW
For the millions of children and adolescents affected by chronic skin conditions such as atopic

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