The ADRN is a consortium of academic medical centers that conduct clinical research studies to learn more about skin infections associated with atopic dermatitis. The ADRN program was established in 2004 and has been renewed four times, most recently in 2020. In its prior iterations, the program has examined various aspect of the cutaneous immune system and generated pivotal knowledge on the structure and function of the skin, including abnormalities of the skin barrier, the generation of anti-microbial peptides, the skin’s lipidomic profile, and its susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
Main Areas of Focus
- To understand host defense mechanisms and immune system responses in the skin by comparing responses to viral and bacterial skin infections in healthy individuals with those in people with atopic dermatitis
- To understand more about the immune system of atopic dermatitis patients, which may lead to new therapeutic targets that minimize the likelihood of cutaneous infections that frequently exacerbate this disease
Read more about this network: Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN)
Selected Current Studies
LEADS
Longitudinal Endotyping of Atopic Dermatitis Through Transcriptomic Skin Analysis (LEADS) is a prospective study involving patients with atopic dermatitis with various levels of severity. The study analyzes the activity of genes that are expressed in the skin in order to guide future new treatments and provide a more personalized approach to the management of this condition. Participants receive approved therapies for atopic dermatitis, and therapy may be stepped up depending on efficacy. At every stage of treatment, skin samples are collected using a specialized, noninvasive dermatologic skin tape as well as skin biopsies. More information about LEADS can be found here.
TIME-2
Targeted Investigation of Microbiome 2 Treat Atopic Dermatitis (TIME-2) is a clinical trial involving patients ages 12 and older with atopic dermatitis whose skin carries the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The trial will assess if application of a cream that contains another bacterium thought to be beneficial, Staphylococcus hominis A9, compared to a cream that does not contain any bacteria, will provide atopic dermatitis control over 12 weeks by protecting the skin and minimizing skin inflammation. Participants will receive standard therapy for their atopic dermatitis, and skin samples will be collected during the study.
Currently Funded Centers
ADRN includes one Leadership Center and six Clinical Research Centers.
Leadership Center
National Jewish Health
Principal Investigator: Donald Leung
Award: UM1AI151958
Clinical Research Centers
University of Rochester
Principal Investigator: Lisa Beck
Award: U01AI152011
Boston Children’s Hospital
Principal Investigators: Raif Geha and Wanda Phipatanakul
Award: U01AI152033
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Principal Investigator: Gurjit Khurana Hershey
Award: U01AI152034
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Principal Investigator: Emma Guttman
Award: U01AI152036
National Jewish Health
Principal Investigators: Donald Leung and Elena Goleva
Award: U01AI152037
University of California, San Diego
Principal Investigator: Richard Gallo
Award: U01AI152038
Publications
A list of publications from current ADRN awardees can be accessed here.