Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant

Overview

Alopecia areata (AA) is a common autoimmune skin disease that causes hair loss on the scalp, face, and sometimes on other areas of the body, and affects as many as 147 million people worldwide. Nearly half of patients experience their first episode of alopecia areata before age 20. A diagnosis early in life is linked to higher disease severity and poorer prognosis, making pediatric alopecia areata an important target for research and therapeutic intervention. Despite recent advances, there are no FDA-approved treatments for pediatric alopecia areata. The burdens on these patients, and their families, can be significant and many important research questions remain unanswered.

To address this need, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) and PeDRA are collaborating to support research investigations focused on pediatric alopecia areata with the Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant. Through this grant, NAAF and PeDRA intend to accelerate research that improves the lives of pediatric alopecia areata patients and their families.

Focus

This Challenge Grant is intended to stimulate scientists to establish or sustain research programs focused on pediatric alopecia areata. Investigators with any innovative research idea are encouraged to apply for the challenge grant, with priority consideration given to proposals that address one or more of the following areas of interest:

• Investigations of targets or pathways that will advance understanding of the pathophysiology of pediatric AA
• Investigations of epidemiology or the natural history of pediatric AA
• Elucidation of the burden of pediatric alopecia areata on patients and families including the psychosocial impact
• Advances in treatment or tools for treatment decision-making by patients and families

Priority consideration will be given to projects led by early-to-mid career principal investigators collaborating with senior mentors and projects that address high-priority research questions. Additional priority will be given to applications that support NAAF and PeDRA’s commitments to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all facets of their organizations and the research they support.

Important Details