What affects eczema (atopic dermatitis) in adults living in a city neighborhood
Atopic dermatitis in an urban adult population: identifying the role of social and environmental factors
Researchers will follow racially and ethnically diverse adults with eczema in a North Philadelphia neighborhood to learn how housing, neighborhood, and social factors relate to skin symptoms and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323015 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create a group of adults with atopic dermatitis who live in a socioeconomically disadvantaged, medically underserved area of North Philadelphia. Participants will be asked about their skin symptoms, quality of life, housing conditions, neighborhood experiences, stress, and health care use, and researchers will combine that information with medical records and neighborhood data. The team will look for links between social and environmental factors (like housing, pollution, or access to care) and how severe eczema is or how much it affects daily life. The goal is to explain racial and ethnic differences in adult eczema outcomes and guide future programs to reduce those disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 21 and older) who currently have atopic dermatitis and live in or near the North Philadelphia neighborhood, especially people from Black and other underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children, people without atopic dermatitis, or adults who live far from the Philadelphia area are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to social or neighborhood changes and tailored care approaches that reduce eczema burden and narrow racial disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies—mainly in children—have linked social and environmental factors to eczema, but adult-focused, racially diverse urban cohorts like this are less common.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Takeshita, Junko — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Takeshita, Junko
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.