Genetics of hidradenitis suppurativa across diverse racial groups
Multi-racial genetic analysis of hidradenitis suppurativa
This project looks for genetic differences linked to hidradenitis suppurativa in people from European, African American, and Asian backgrounds to help point to new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158940 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to give blood and sometimes small skin samples so researchers can compare DNA and affected skin across people from different racial backgrounds. The team will run genome-wide scans (GWAS) on HS cases and matched controls and combine results across ancestries to find shared and distinct genetic risk factors. They will also map gene and protein activity directly in HS skin using spatial transcriptomics and proteomics to see which cells interact in lesions, and test candidate DNA changes in the lab with reporter assays to find changes that alter gene activity. Together these approaches aim to connect genetic differences to biological pathways that could be targeted by new therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa from European, African American, Asian, or other racial backgrounds who are willing to provide blood, possibly small skin biopsies, and clinical information would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HS, those unwilling to provide biospecimens or clinical data, or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit should not expect direct treatment from participation in this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological pathways and genetic markers that lead to new or better treatments tailored to diverse patient populations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior GWAS and tissue-profiling studies have identified genetic links and immune pathways in HS, but combining multi-racial GWAS with spatial transcriptomics represents a newer and less-tested extension of those methods.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liao, Wilson — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Liao, Wilson
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 below.