Acne: how skin oils, bacteria, and the immune system interact
Official title: Acne: a disease of lipid metabolism, microbiome and the immune response
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11393075 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A UC system grant is exploring how acne develops by looking at skin oils, skin bacteria, and the body’s immune response to help find new ways to prevent or treat acne.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,092,410 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AR080594-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393075 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with acne who consent to skin sampling or provide skin biopsies or other samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
People not willing to provide samples or who do not have acne may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This grant studies the acne problem by examining the skin’s oil production, the microbiome in hair follicles, and the immune cells that react to inflammation. Researchers will use advanced sequencing and lipid analysis to connect what bacteria and fats do in acne lesions with how immune cells respond. The work includes single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial profiling to map cell types and signals in acne-affected skin. Ultimately, the project aims to build a model that explains how lipid metabolism, microbes, and immunity drive acne.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to targeted therapies that modulate skin lipids or immune responses to reduce acne.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work using transcriptomics and lipidomics has begun to link lipid metabolism with immune responses in acne, with ongoing efforts expanding this understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Modlin, Robert L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Modlin, Robert L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Acne: how skin bacteria, fats, and immunity drive lesions
A large NIH-funded effort at UCLA/UCSD is studying how skin bacteria, fat metabolism, and the immune system interact to cause acne, with plans to translate findings into better treatments.
-
Spironolactone vs doxycycline for acne in women
A multi-center trial compares spironolactone and doxycycline to treat acne in adult women to find which works better with fewer side effects.
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Novel endolysins to target Cutibacterium acnes for acne treatment
A small research grant is developing a highly specific enzyme therapy to kill the acne-causing bacteria without disturbing good skin or gut bacteria.
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Th17 extracellular traps and skin bacteria in acne health
A study in people with acne aims to understand how specific skin bacteria and immune cells interact to fight acne-causing germs and how this could lead to better treatments.
-
New bacteria-targeting enzymes to fight acne
Developing species-specific enzymes to remove the acne-causing bacterium Cutibacterium acnes for people with acne.
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How skin oils, bacteria, and the immune system cause acne
Researchers are exploring how skin oils, the bacteria on your skin, and immune cells interact in people with acne to find better treatment targets.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.