How the skin protein filaggrin affects childhood eczema and later allergies
Official title: Filaggrin Expression in Atopic Dermatitis: Regulation and Impact on Disease Progression
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11103189 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how levels of the skin protein filaggrin in young children with eczema may increase the chance of developing food allergies, hay fever, or asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2006 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $621,811 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI070235-20 |
| Project ID | NIH-11103189 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children (infants through about 11 years) with atopic dermatitis, especially those with early-onset or moderate-to-severe eczema, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without eczema, adults with late-onset disease, or patients whose skin problems are unrelated to filaggrin changes may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
If your child joins, researchers will follow kids with atopic dermatitis over time through the MPAACH cohort, collecting skin samples, blood, and clinical information. They will measure filaggrin levels in both non-lesional and lesional skin, test for genetic factors like CARD14, and record environmental exposures and inflammatory signs. The team will analyze how genes, inflammation, and environment interact to cause temporary or lasting skin barrier problems. This approach aims to link early skin changes to later development of food allergy, allergic rhinitis, or asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could help identify which children are most likely to develop other allergies and lead to new ways to protect the skin barrier and prevent the atopic march.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies have linked filaggrin loss or low filaggrin expression to eczema and higher allergy risk, but combining longitudinal biosamples with genetics and environment to map progression is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kottyan, Leah Claire — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Kottyan, Leah Claire
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stopping Atopic Dermatitis and Allergy: Preventing Food Allergy by Protecting the Skin
A large study in infants at high risk for allergies tests whether using a skin barrier cream together with early, proactive skin care can prevent peanut allergy and other food allergies.
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SEAL Study: Preventing peanut allergy by protecting baby skin
This trial tests whether using a skin-emollient and proactive skin steroids early in life can prevent peanut allergy in high-risk infants.
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SEAL Study: Prevent allergy by protecting the baby’s skin
A very young group of high-risk babies will try a early skin-care plan to reduce eczema and prevent peanut allergy.
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Understanding how skin fungi affect atopic dermatitis in adults
A study will look at how the skin's fungal community influences atopic dermatitis in adults and whether this understanding could lead to new treatments.
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Preventing eczema-related allergies by strengthening infants' skin barrier
This project will see if using a trilipid skin cream plus proactive mild topical steroids in infants with early dry skin or eczema lowers their chances of developing food allergies.
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Personalized predictions for how atopic dermatitis may progress in kids and teens
A patient-friendly plan to forecast how early-onset eczema might evolve in children and young people using simple health clues and data from diverse settings.
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.