Run in partnership with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
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 160 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, making pediatric alopecia areata an important target for research and therapeutic intervention. To date, there is only one FDA-approved treatment for adolescents ages 12 and up, limiting effective treatment options for most pediatric patients. The burdens on these patients and their families are 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
- Up to $50,000 to support one year of research
- One award anticipated for this funding cycle
- Application deadline was Thursday, September 19, 2024
Previous Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant Recipient
Thy Huynh, MD, FAAD
2023 Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Elucidating Psychological Well-being and Access to Support in Families of Children with Alopecia Areata Patients in Underserved Mississippi Communities
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Chantal Cotter, MD
2022 Pediatric Alopecia Areata Challenge Grant
St. John’s Institute of Dermatology
Alopecia & Us: studying the impact of alopecia areata to adolescents and the family
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