Stopping Atopic Dermatitis and Allergy: Preventing Food Allergy by Protecting the Skin
Official title: SEAL (Stopping Atopic dermatitis and ALlergy) Study: Prevent allergy by enhancing the skin barrier
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11532535 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 start | August 14, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $150,239 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI147462-07S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11532535 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are newborns or infants within the first weeks of life who show early signs of dry skin or eczema and have risk factors for allergies.
✕Less likely to help
Children without early eczema or high allergy risk may not benefit from this specific preventive approach.
What this research studies
This trial targets babies with very early signs of eczema to see if protecting the skin and controlling inflammation from birth can stop food allergies from developing. Participants are randomly assigned to proactive skin care plus gentle anti-inflammatory treatment or to standard care, with follow-up to see how many develop food allergies like peanut allergy. The study uses a large, multi-year design to track eczema severity, skin barrier health, and allergy outcomes to determine if early skin interventions can reduce allergy development. If successful, this approach could change early-life care for infants at risk of allergies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, this strategy could reduce the number of children who develop food allergies by protecting the skin early in life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest early skin care and dietary exposure can influence allergy development, but definitive prevention results for this combination are still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Mary — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Mary
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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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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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SEAL: Stopping eczema and allergy by protecting the skin in infants
A large clinical study in early infancy tests whether using a skin barrier cream together with a gentle anti-inflammatory cream can reduce the chance of developing food allergies.
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Preventing food allergies by protecting babies' skin
This trial tests whether starting a trilipid moisturizer plus early gentle topical steroids for babies with dry skin or early eczema can lower their chance of developing food allergies.
-
Preventing food allergy by strengthening babies' skin barrier
See if giving a trilipid emollient plus proactive topical steroid treatment to infants with very early dry skin or eczema can lower their chance of developing food allergies.
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.