Modeling HS: how genes linked to hidradenitis suppurativa drive disease
Official title: Modeling Hidradenitis Suppurativa: linking genetic susceptibility loci to disease pathogenesis
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11372358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH grant is exploring how genetic factors linked to hidradenitis suppurativa may cause skin inflammation and lesions in adults, with potential to guide better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $409,063 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AR086409-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with hidradenitis suppurativa or individuals at risk due to family history or genetic factors may benefit from future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have HS or related skin conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from these studies.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on hidradenitis suppurativa, a painful skin condition that often appears in the armpits and groin and is linked to other health problems. Researchers will study how HS-associated genes influence skin cells using mouse genetics, gene delivery, and human skin cell tests, supported by single-cell and protein analysis. The goal is to understand whether changes in specific genes cause the disease, which could point to targeted therapies. The work uses human samples and animal models to connect genetic risk with the mechanisms that create lesions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new targets for treatments that address the root causes of HS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked certain genes to HS and shown that skin cells from HS patients behave differently, but causal roles are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ward, Nicole Leanne — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ward, Nicole Leanne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.