Emerging Investigator Research Grants Program

Overview
Childhood skin diseases are associated with a severe burden on patients, families, and healthcare providers. Despite this burden, effective treatments remain sparse, and the pace of research remains slow. To help overcome these challenges while developing the next generation of leaders in the field, the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) is offering the Emerging Investigator Research Grants (EIRG) program to support short-term (12-week maximum) mentored research experiences for medical students, pediatric residents, and recent graduates to conduct projects relevant to pediatric dermatology. The expectation is that awardees will complete EIRG projects during the summer (e.g., between MS1 and MS2) or another suitable time that is mutually agreed upon with a project mentor.

Goals
The EIRG program is driven by PeDRA’s mission to create, inspire, and sustain research to prevent, treat, and cure childhood skin disease. Grants are intended to support a focused research experience that equips awardees with valuable skills and relationships, fosters interest in pediatric dermatology from a diverse cohort of applicants, and contributes meaningful research outcomes to the field of pediatric dermatology.

Priority consideration will be given to projects that address high-priority patient-centered research questions and projects that align with the focus of any of PeDRA’s Focused Study Groups. While applications are strongly encouraged from any eligible applicant conducting any relevant research, additional priority will be given to applications that support PeDRA’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all facets of its organization and pediatric dermatology research. This includes projects dedicated to EDI-relevant topics and mentors and mentees from populations who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM). Diversity and inclusion strengthen the PeDRA research network and are critical to the pursuit of its mission.

Important Details

Eligibility criteria can be found on the EIRG RFA.
Awardees will receive $4,000 to support an in-person project or $1,500 to support a remote project, plus $1,000 to support travel to attend the PeDRA Annual Conference.
Applications are due at 11:59 PM PT on:
- Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Friday, October 17, 2025

EIRG RFA

application Portal

Previous EIRG Recipients

Alicia Edwards & Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD

2024 Emerging Investigator Research Grant

National Institutes of Health

Investigating the Prevalence of Inborn Errors of Immunity and Treatment Responses in Pediatric Alopecia Areata: A Multi-Site Study

Previous EIRG Recipients

Alicia Edwards & Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD

Elyse Mackenzie, BS & Emily Gorell, DO

Carly Stevens, MD & Carrie Coughlin, MD, MPHS

Racquel Bitar & Elena Hawryluk, MD, PhD

Carly Mulinda, Christine Lauren, MD, MHA & Maria Garzon, MD

Carolena Steinberg & Joyce Teng, MD, PhD

Vince Wu, HBSc & Rebecca Levy, MD

Radhika Gupta & Albert Yan, MD

Santanna Patterson & Beth Drolet, MD

Joy Xu & Jonathan Glass, MD

Yuliya Kozina & Carrie Coughlin, MD, MPHS

Sneha Rangu & Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD

Alejandra Moncayo, MPH & Jeannette Jakus, MD, MBA

Kaylin Beiter, PhD & Anna Cristina Garza-Mayers, MD, PhD

Cheri Chambers, PhD & Heather Brandling-Bennett, MD

Morgan Dykman & Jillian Rork, MD

Celine Schreidah, Christine Lauren, MD, & Larisa Geskin, MD

Haleh Zabihi & Cathryn Sibbald, MD

Jordan Bui, Dawn Siegel, MD, & Sheligah Maguiness, MD

Hannah Chang & Joy Wan, MD, MSCE

Grace Okpali & Colleen Cotton, MD

Kennedy Sparling, Harper Price, MD, & Judith O’Haver, PhD, RN

Diana Zarowin & Brittany Craiglow, MD

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