The GW Department of Dermatology has been awarded a Competitive Clinical Research Grant from Eli Lilly and Company to evaluate the effectiveness of atopic triad (atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and seasonal allergies) screening and education to reduce the burden of atopic dermatitis and its related comorbidities.

Atopic triad screening involves assessing a patient’s history for eczema, allergies, and asthma. Through this research grant, GW clinicians will evaluate the impact of early atopic triad screening on disease management and health outcomes, assess the efficacy of educational interventions on improving the knowledge and management of atopic conditions in vulnerable communities, and assess the clinical impact of lebrikizumab (Ebglyss, Eli Lilly and Company) on AD severity and allergic comorbidities in pediatric patients. They will also evaluate patient-reported outcomes and quality of pre- and post-lebrikizumab treatment.

The grant was awarded to the team in spring 2025. The project will begin on October 1, 2025; participant recruitment will begin in November 2025; atopic triad screening and education will launch in December 2025; and lebrikizumab treatment will begin in January 2026 and will span a full 12 months per participant.

Done in Partnership

This project will be done in partnership with established programs like Children’s National IMPACT DC, to leverage their researchers and expertise in asthma care. Since 2021, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GW SMHS) Department of Dermatology has held a monthly free teledermatology Help fair/clinic as a mechanism to improve access to dermatologic education and care to the residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8. AD, alopecia areata, and psoriasis/psoriatic comorbidities have all been a key foci for the program, which has served more than 500 patients to date.

“As clinicians who are integrated into the community in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8, this grant will enable us to enhance our scope with the goal of supporting the overall health and well-being of the community,” says Adam Friedman, MD, Chair of the Department of Dermatology and PI on the grant, in a news release.

“Our goal is to enhance clinical outcomes, empower families through education, and generate critical real-world data on the effectiveness of lebrikizumab in diverse communities,” adds Christina Tolete, third-year GW SMHS medical student, dermatology-rheumatology research fellow, and clinical on this project. “The award reflects the department’s continued leadership in clinical research and its commitment to excellence in dermatologic care.”