May 31, 2024 – PeDRA member and recipient of the 2023 PeDRA Volunteer of the Year Award, Dr. Jillian Rork has received an R03 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the cardiometabolic risk of Down syndrome patients living with psoriasis. This grant marks an exciting new example of a PeDRA investigator leveraging PeDRA-supported research into NIH funding and defines a novel approach for advancing research in the field.
In addition to being a PeDRA member and award recipient, Dr. Rork was the mentor on a 2023 PeDRA Emerging Investigator Research Grant and currently serves as co-chair of the Down Syndrome Subgroup of PeDRA’s Genetic Skin Disorders Focused Study Group. Her R03 award, entitled “Down syndrome and Psoriasis: An Investigation of Cardiometabolic Risk,” is being supported by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at NIH. It represents the evolution of ongoing work to understand the burden of skin disease in individuals with Down syndrome and aligns with PeDRA’s persistent efforts to characterize the relationship between psoriasis and cardiometabolic disease. These include multiple studies through the Atopic Dermatitis & Psoriasis Focused Study Group and the 2018 Pediatric Psoriasis Challenge Grant, co-funded with the National Psoriasis Foundation and awarded to Dr. Amy Paller of Northwestern University in collaboration with Dr. Nehal Mehta of NHLBI.
Dr. Rork’s grant will explore the relationship between cardiovascular disease and Down syndrome with the interesting hypothesis that Down syndrome may be protective against the cardiometabolic comorbidities known to be associated with psoriasis. The study will use the large Epic Cosmos data platform and, through a first-of-its-kind arrangement, will utilize the services of PeDRA Biostatistician, Dr. Amy Buros Stein for the statistical expertise necessary for the project. This demonstrates a novel extension of one of PeDRA’s most valued centralized research support services.
“I am incredibly grateful for PeDRA and all the support I have received for this NIH grant,” says Rork. “When I discovered the field of pediatric dermatology, now almost 12 years ago, I was drawn to our community for its unwavering dedication to collaboration and improving the lives of our patients. I am so fortunate to be part of a research community where the word “never!” is not known.”
To learn more about Dr. Rork’s project, explore her project page on NIH RePORTER. To learn more about PeDRA’s centralized research support services, explore the Resources for Researchers Webpage.
