Overview
Nearly 10 million U.S children under the age of 18 are affected by eczema, with one-third affected by moderate-to-severe disease. Despite recent therapeutic advances, the burdens on these patients, and their families, can be significant and many important research questions remain unanswered. To address this need, PeDRA and the National Eczema Association (NEA) are collaborating to support targeted clinical research investigations focused on pediatric eczema with the 2021 Childhood Eczema Challenge Grant. Through this grant NEA and PeDRA intend to accelerate research that improves the health and quality of life of pediatric eczema patients and their families
Focus
This Challenge Grant is intended to stimulate early and mid-career scientists as they seek to build and sustain careers as research investigators and future thought leaders within this critical field of study. Research proposals should address at least one of the following priorities related to pediatric eczema:
- Eczema Heterogeneity: Novel Insights: Projects aimed at advancing understanding of the underlying factors contributing to the diversity of pediatric eczema clinical presentation, treatment response and comorbidities.
- Innovations in Clinical Practice & Care: Studies addressing approaches to facilitate optimal identification and treatment of pediatric eczema and associated comorbidities in all health care settings to enhance patient/caregiver-reported and patient/caregiver-centric outcomes.
- Understanding & Alleviating Disease Burden: Insightful proposals that identify, quantify or aim to reduce aspects of pediatric eczema burden that negatively affect patient or family/caregiver quality of life (including lifestyle, academic, occupational, or economic impacts) based on patient population, treatment approach, etc.
- Eczema Prevention Novel investigations into the potential risk factors and strategies of primary eczema prevention in the pediatric population.
Important Details
- Up to $50,000 to support one year of research
- Priority given to proposals that focus on clinical or translational research
- Applications are due May 4, 2021
- 2021 Request for Proposals (RFP)
Last Year’s Childhood Eczema Challenge Grant Recipient:

Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, MSCE
Childhood Eczema Challenge Grant
University of Pennsylvania
Understanding Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Utilization for Childhood Atopic Dermatitis
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