Role of skin and gut microbes in starting atopic dermatitis in babies
Official title: Investigating the role of skin and gut microbiome in the onset of atopic dermatitis in infants
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11406309 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant examines how microbes on the skin and in the gut may influence the development of atopic dermatitis in infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $236,549 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AR084058-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406309 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants at risk for or showing early signs of atopic dermatitis, with parental consent for sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
Infants without microbiome imbalances or those not enrolled in sample collection may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
Researchers will study skin swabs, nasal swabs, and stool samples from hundreds of infants to see how microbes relate to early AD. They will use advanced sequencing and bioinformatics to identify bacteria, fungi, and viruses at very detailed levels. The study aims to uncover how the skin and gut microbiomes interact as AD begins, potentially guiding new prevention or treatment ideas for infants. Home and clinical settings may be involved in sample collection to capture real-world data from families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better prevention or early treatment strategies for infant atopic dermatitis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show microbiome differences in AD, but this project expands to infant onset and gut-skin interactions with a large sample set.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shen, Zeyang — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Shen, Zeyang
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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.