Understanding how skin bacteria interact with the immune system in early life

Unraveling skin microbiota-immune interactions that drive early life commensal tolerance

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11162080

This study looks at how your skin's immune system works with good bacteria during early life to keep your skin healthy, which is important for preventing issues like acne and eczema.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11162080 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how the skin's immune system interacts with beneficial bacteria during early life to maintain a healthy balance. It focuses on the role of specific immune cells that help develop tolerance to these bacteria, which is crucial for preventing chronic skin conditions like acne and eczema. By studying the mechanisms behind this tolerance, the research aims to identify how disruptions can lead to inflammatory diseases. The approach includes both in vivo and ex vivo studies to explore the signals that promote immune tolerance.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children who are at risk for developing skin inflammatory conditions.

Not a fit: Patients with established chronic skin conditions who are beyond the early life stage may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating chronic skin conditions in children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of skin microbiota in immune tolerance, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.