Skin barrier and microbes in early childhood eczema and food allergy risk
Role of Skin Barrier and Immune Alterations in Allergic Sensitization
This project looks at how early changes in babies' skin and its microbes may raise or lower the chance of developing eczema and food allergies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a parent, this work follows infants to compare children from a farming community (Old Order Mennonites) who have low rates of eczema and food allergy with a higher-risk Rochester group. Researchers will collect skin samples and analyze the microbes using 16S sequencing while also measuring skin barrier changes. They will track children's health over time to see how skin microbes and barrier status relate to developing atopic dermatitis and food allergy and to explore protective effects of early farm exposures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and infants, especially those with a family history of allergies or from households with farming exposures, whose parents can provide skin samples and attend follow-up visits.
Not a fit: Adults, people without early-life allergy risk, or those with long-established food allergies or eczema may not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent infant eczema and food allergies by improving the skin barrier or changing skin microbes.
How similar studies have performed: Observational studies have linked farming exposures and more diverse microbiomes with lower allergy risk, but approaches to prevent allergies based on these findings are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guttman, Emma — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Guttman, Emma
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.