Genetics of hidradenitis suppurativa across diverse racial groups
Official title: Multi-racial genetic analysis of hidradenitis suppurativa
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11158940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 16, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,897 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR078688-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liao, Wilson — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Liao, Wilson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Anti-CD38 immunotherapy for severe hidradenitis suppurativa
A new treatment using anti-CD38 therapy is being tested for people with severe hidradenitis suppurativa who have not responded to prior therapies.
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Botulinum toxin blocks nerve signals to immune cells to treat hidradenitis suppurativa
This NIH grant tests a new approach to hidradenitis suppurativa by using botulinum toxin to interrupt nerve signals that may drive skin inflammation in patients.
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Precision therapies for hidradenitis suppurativa using AI
A doctor-researcher team at UC San Francisco is using advanced computer methods to find personalized drug options to treat hidradenitis suppurativa.
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Injectable Hydrogel for HS: a localized therapy to ease painful skin disease
A new baricitinib hydrogel is being developed to deliver pain relief and reduce inflammation directly in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) lesions, potentially lowering systemic side effects.
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Whole-genome sequencing to understand hidradenitis suppurativa in diverse groups
Researchers will study the genetic factors that contribute to hidradenitis suppurativa, especially in African American, Hispanic/Latino, and White patients, to better understand why some people are more affected.
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Understanding the Genes Behind Hidradenitis Suppurativa in teens and young adults
A study to find genetic factors that contribute to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful skin condition that often starts in adolescence and affects many Black individuals.
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.