Topical treatment for vitiligo using a selective MC1R agonist
Official title: Vitiligo topical treatment applying a potent, highly selective MC1R agonist
Funded at Mc1r Ventures LLC · NIH-10759768 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new cream that might help people with vitiligo regain their skin color by targeting a specific receptor in the skin, and it will keep track of how well it works and how your skin feels during the treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mc1r Ventures LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $295,913 |
| NIH project number | 1R41AR083311-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10759768 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with vitiligo, particularly those who are young adults or children under 11 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with vitiligo who do not respond to topical treatments or have other underlying skin conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a topical treatment for vitiligo, a skin condition characterized by the loss of pigment. The approach involves using a potent and selective agonist for the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which may help restore pigmentation in affected areas. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind melanocyte destruction and explore how this treatment can promote repigmentation. Patients will be monitored for changes in skin pigmentation and overall skin health throughout the treatment period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new effective treatment option for individuals suffering from vitiligo, potentially improving their skin appearance and psychological well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using MC1R agonists for skin conditions, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Mc1r Ventures LLC
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abdel-Malek, Zalfa — Mc1r Ventures LLC
- Study coordinator: Abdel-Malek, Zalfa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cell communications and tissue memory in vitiligo
This grant looks at how skin cells talk to each other and how these conversations may drive vitiligo, with the goal of finding new ways to treat or manage the condition.
-
Autoreactive T Cell Function in Vitiligo
A study in people with vitiligo and related models aims to understand how skin-homing T cells drive pigment loss and how this knowledge could lead to better treatments.
-
Understanding why the immune system targets skin in vitiligo and how this causes lasting damage
A research program is studying how immune cells attack pigment cells in the skin of people with vitiligo and what drives this autoimmune process.
-
Understanding why some vitiligo patches repigment while others stay white
This grant studies why certain vitiligo patches repigment in some areas after treatment and why others persist, aiming to make treatments faster and more even.
-
Understanding Cell Communication and Tissue Memory in Vitiligo
This project aims to understand how skin cells communicate and remember past events in people with vitiligo, hoping to find new ways to treat the condition.
-
Understanding T Cells in Vitiligo
This research explores how certain immune cells, called T cells, cause the skin condition vitiligo, which leads to white spots on the skin.
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.