Preventing childhood food allergy by strengthening babies' skin barrier
SEAL (Stopping Atopic dermatitis and ALlergy) Study: Prevent allergy by enhancing the skin barrier
This trial tests whether using a trilipid moisturizer daily plus early mild topical steroid treatment for infants with early dry skin or eczema can lower their chance of developing food allergies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093911 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby shows dry skin or early eczema in the first weeks of life, they could be enrolled and randomly assigned to proactive treatment or standard reactive care. The proactive group will use a trilipid emollient daily and begin planned low‑dose topical steroids to prevent flare‑ups, while the control group receives usual reactive treatment. Around 750 infants will be followed to see whether reducing eczema severity and duration lowers the rate of developing food allergies. Researchers will track clinical food allergy diagnoses, skin exams, and allergy testing over the follow‑up period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants who develop dry skin or the first signs of eczema within their first 10 weeks of life and who do not already have a diagnosed food allergy are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Babies who already have confirmed food allergies or who develop eczema well after the early infancy window are unlikely to benefit from this prevention strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce how many infants develop food allergies by preventing allergen sensitization through the skin.
How similar studies have performed: Prior trials like LEAP and EAT showed early oral exposure can prevent peanut allergy and linked early eczema to allergy risk, but skin‑barrier prevention trials have had mixed results, so combining trilipid emollients with proactive steroids is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nadeau, Kari C. — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Nadeau, Kari C.
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.