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 and pediatric residents 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 2023 PeDRA Annual Conference.
- Applications can be submitted for the following deadlines:
- February 2, 2023
- May 4, 2023
- August 3, 2023
Previous EIRG Recipients


Kaylin Beiter, PhD & Anna Cristina Garza-Mayers, MD, PhD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Massachusetts General Hospital
Geomapping of Pediatric Dermatologists: A practical intervention towards health equity


Cheri Chambers, PhD & Heather Brandling-Bennett, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington
Imaging Analysis of Facial Atrophy in Patients with Pediatric Morphea


Morgan Dykman & Jillian Rork, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Quality of Life Survey in Patients with Down Syndrome and Dermatologic Conditions



Celine Schreidah, Christine Lauren, MD, & Larisa Geskin, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Columbia University
Equitable Access to Sunscreen as Skin Cancer Primary Prevention for Children from Low-Income Families: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis


Haleh Zabihi & Cathryn Sibbald, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
The Hospital for Sick Children
Transition Readiness in Patients with Cutaneous Skin Diseases: A Prospective Observational Study



Jordan Bui, Dawn Siegel, MD, & Sheligah Maguiness, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Georgetown University, Stanford University, and the University of Minnesota
Surveying caregivers about their interactions with social media for their child’s dermatology care


Hannah Chang & Joy Wan, MD, MSCE
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Johns Hopkins University
Understanding patient-reported outcomes in pediatric patients receiving systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis


Grace Okpali & Colleen Cotton, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Rush Medical College and Children’s National Hospital
Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa



Kennedy Sparling, Harper Price, MD, & Judith O’Haver, PhD, RN
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
University of Arizona & Phoenix Children’s Hospital
The Influence of Childhood Experiences on Exacerbations of Atopic Dermatitis


Diana Zarowin & Brittany Craiglow, MD
2023 Emerging Investigator Research Grant
Yale University
Novel Use of Oral Minoxidil in Pediatric Alopecia Patients
Special thanks to AbbVie for their support of the 2023 EIRG Program.