Creating a tool to understand how skin absorbs topical medications
Official title: Development and Validation of a Multi-functional, Multi-purpose Quantitative Tool for Dermal Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling
Funded at University of Bath · NIH-10928221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool to better understand how skin absorbs creams and ointments, which could help create more effective treatments for people using these types of medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Bath NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bath, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 5, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $243,950 |
| NIH project number | 5U01FD007957-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals who use topical medications for various skin conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use topical medications or have conditions that require systemic treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new quantitative tool that models how topical medications are absorbed by the skin. It investigates the changes that occur when these products are applied, including the evaporation of certain ingredients and how the remaining film on the skin affects drug delivery. By using both new and existing experimental data, the project aims to enhance an existing model that simulates drug absorption, making it more accurate in predicting how medications interact with skin. This could lead to better formulations and improved therapeutic outcomes for patients using topical treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective topical medications that are better absorbed by the skin, improving treatment outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling is established, the specific application to dermal metamorphosis is innovative and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
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University of Bath
Bath, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delgado-Charro, M. Begona — University of Bath
- Study coordinator: Delgado-Charro, M. Begona
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating a new framework to evaluate how well local drugs work in the gut
This study is looking at how well different gut medications work by testing them in the lab and using computer models, so we can better understand their effectiveness for both healthy people and those with gut issues, which could help make future drug testing easier and more efficient.
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Understanding how topical drugs work in the skin
This study is looking at how well skin medications can get through the skin to work where they're needed, using special imaging techniques, so that we can create better treatments for skin conditions that help you feel better.
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.