Understanding how skin fungi affect atopic dermatitis in adults
Official title: Uncovering the Functional Role of the Skin Mycobiome in Atopic Dermatitis
Funded at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic · NIH-11435642 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study will look at how the skin's fungal community influences atopic dermatitis in adults and whether this understanding could lead to new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $443,825 |
| NIH project number | 1DP2AI200973-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11435642 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with atopic dermatitis, especially those with head and neck involvement, may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct symptom relief during the study.
What this research studies
This project focuses on adults with atopic dermatitis and explores the role of the skin fungi (mycobiome) in disease severity and response to therapies. Researchers will examine how the fungal community interacts with bacteria and the skin environment, aiming to identify mechanisms that worsen or improve symptoms. The study will use experiments that reflect real-life skin conditions and may test new mycobiome-targeted approaches to therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new fungal-targeted strategies to reduce itching, inflammation, and flare-ups for adults with atopic dermatitis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked microbiome changes to dermatitis, but the specific role of the skin mycobiome is less clear and this project aims to clarify it.
Where this research is happening
-
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
Lebanon, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kowalski, Caitlin H. — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Kowalski, Caitlin H.
Related research
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SEAL Study: Prevent allergy by protecting the baby’s skin
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Sodium in the Skin and Atopic Dermatitis
This grant looks at how salt in the skin relates to eczema and whether reducing salt could help people with atopic dermatitis.
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.