Developed Ideas and Special Initiatives

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 147 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 and poorer prognosis, making pediatric alopecia areata an important target for research and therapeutic intervention. Despite recent advances, there are no FDA-approved treatments for pediatric alopecia areata. The burdens on these patients, and their families, can be 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
• Earliest project start date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
• Application deadline: Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Overview
Evidence-based consensus recommendations published by experts in the management of disease are a critical fiber of the healthcare fabric. Healthcare providers rely on guidelines and expert recommendations to inform treatment decisions and insurance providers rely on these to design formularies. Researchers compare new therapeutic or procedural interventions to standard-of-care practice guidelines in randomized controlled trials. However, many diseases still lack up-to-date recommendations or expert consensus recommendations, resulting in wide variability in practice patterns, and leaving many patients without access to treatment they need. Evidence-based guidelines and expert consensus best practice recommendations are lacking for many pediatric skin diseases.

To help address this need, PeDRA is calling for submissions to its 2022 Consensus Grant program, which will provide up to $25,000 of support for the creation of consensus recommendations, best practice recommendations, or consensus treatment plans for the treatment of diseases in the field of pediatric dermatology in the United States and/or Canada. Interested teams are invited to submit proposals to create consensus-based recommendations or best practice recommendations for a disease of their choice, using a rigorous methodology of their choice. However, priority will be given to proposals that address diseases for which contemporary guidelines do not exist, and which use established consensus methodology.

Important Details

• Up to $25,000 for one year to support the creation of consensus recommendations or best practice recommendations for the management of diseases in the field of pediatric dermatology
• Applications due Thursday, December 1, 2022

Past Consensus Grant Recipients:

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, the National Eczema Association (NEA) and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) are collaborating to support targeted clinical research investigations focused on pediatric eczema with the 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; Innovations in Clinical Practice & Care; Understanding & Alleviating Disease Burden; Eczema Prevention.

Priority will be given to proposals that focus on clinical or translational research, are broadly applicable, and include a patient-centered or comparative effectiveness framework. Applications that support NEA’s and PeDRA’s commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all facets of their organizations and research are encouraged. Proposals that include basic research will be accepted, however, they should be combined with a significant clinical or translational component. Proposals related to the development or enhancement of mobile apps will not be accepted. 

Important Details

• Up to $50,000 to support one year of research
• Application deadline: 5:00PM PDT, Wednesday, June 1, 2022
• 2022 Request for Proposals (RFP)

Past Childhood Eczema Challenge Grant Recipients: