The nine recipients of the National Eczema Association (NEA) 2024 research grant cycle are…
Champion Research Grant– Encourages proven researchers to continue research on emerging or ongoing challenges in eczema or bring their expertise to the field of eczema.
- Christopher Montgomery, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
A Staphylococcus aureus vaccine to prevent atopic dermatitis
Childhood Eczema Challenge Grant – Created in collaboration with the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), this award is intended to accelerate research that improves the health and quality of life of pediatric patients and their families.
- Diego Lopez, DDS, MPH, PhD, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Does the composition of oral microbes contribute to eczema in early life?
Catalyst Research Grant – Designed to support talented early-career scientists on the path toward becoming the next generation of eczema thought leaders by supporting hypothesis-driven research projects.
- James Chambers, MPharm, MSc, PhD, Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, MAExamining US commercial health plan coverage of atopic dermatitis therapies: A longitudinal analysis
- Zelma Chiesa Fuxench MD, MSCE, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, PACharacterization of the cutaneous microbiome in adult patients with seborrheic dermatitis with emphasis on skin mycobiota.
- George Maiti, PhD, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
Extracellular matrix proteoglycans regulate T cell functions during allergic contact dermatitis - Meng-Jen Wu, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDAddressing unmet needs: Evaluating a novel tri-model therapeutic to address itch and infection in atopic dermatitis
Engagement Research Grant – Intended for emerging investigators exploring a new research concept, piloting a new experiment, or undertaking a novel or secondary data analysis.
- Mohini Bhattacharya, PhD, University of Colorado, Denver, Denver, COSkin matrisome as a determinant of S. aureus skin infection severity
- Raquel Sanabria-de la Torre, MS, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, SpainGenetic deregulation and skin barrier dysfunction as biomarkers of therapeutic response in patients with atopic dermatitis
- Emily Robbins, DO, NIH/NIAID, Bethesda, MDAn Infants’ Microbiome in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Their Later Risk of Development of Atopic Dermatitis
The new grants total $365K. NEA has now invested more than $4.4 million since its first grant was awarded in 2004.
“Eczema is a chronic condition that affects over 31 million people in the U.S., many with significant impacts to their overall health and quality of life,” says Wendy Smith Begolka, Chief Strategy Officer at NEA, in a news release, “The NEA grant program was started to fill a much-needed gap in research and, over 20 years later, it’s encouraging to see the breadth and scope of work represented, with real potential to improve lives.”
