Topical botulinum enzyme cream to calm inflamed, itchy skin
Cell-penetrating botulinum proteases as topical therapeutics
A topical cream made from engineered botulinum enzymes aims to reduce nerve-driven inflammation, pain, and itch in people with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173839 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a topical cream made from engineered, cell-penetrating botulinum proteases designed to block nerve signals and inflammatory molecules in the skin. The team will test whether these proteases can penetrate skin when applied with mild, temporary barrier disruption and whether that reduces the release of neuropeptides and cytokines. Early tests use laboratory and animal models to measure skin penetration and inflammation to guide future human testing. If the approach proves safe and effective, it could be developed alongside existing treatments to target symptoms like itching and pain at the skin level.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with inflammatory skin conditions driven by nerve-immune interactions, such as moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, who want additional topical options.
Not a fit: People with unrelated skin problems, active skin infections, or those who cannot tolerate minor barrier disruption may not receive benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a targeted topical treatment that reduces skin inflammation, itch, and pain with fewer systemic side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Injectable botulinum toxins are widely used clinically and have shown some ability to reduce neuropeptide-driven symptoms, but engineered topical botulinum proteases are a novel, early-stage approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jin, Rongsheng — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Jin, Rongsheng
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.