NEA Research Grant Program

Background

Since 2004, NEA has funded research to improve the health and quality of lives of individuals with eczema. The goal of the program is to promote and cultivate impactful research in the field of eczema and support innovative work that can ideally compete for funding from the National Institutes of Health or other agencies in the future.

The NEA research program centers on projects that further our understanding of the eczema disease process, opportunities for new therapies, optimal physician-patient engagement and the impact eczema has on patients, families, school/work and the healthcare system. These guiding principles are outlined in NEA’s Roadmap to Advocacy.

2018 Research Priorities

NEA’s Scientific & Medical Advisory Council identified the following eczema research priorities for the 2018 NEA Research Grant Program.

A total of four NEA research grants will be awarded in the amount of $50,000 each, in any of identified areas of focus for this RFA cycle. Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a competitive basis.

Applications are requested for the following areas:

Innovations in Basic Science Research

Intended to provide early-stage support for innovative investigations of targets, pathways, or technologies that will advance understanding of the pathophysiology or natural history of pediatric or adult eczema, and potentially lead to novel or enhanced therapeutic/preventative areas of exploration or application. Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, innate/adaptive immune inflammatory or regulatory responses, skin barrier dysfunction or restoration, itch, skin microbiome, genetic, molecular and/or environmental factors.

NOTE: For this priority area only, if the research proposal requires additional funding, an increased maximum award of up to $75,000 may be considered.

Pediatric Eczema: Novel Insights

Proposals in this area should address areas of consideration for the pediatric population that may limit improved health outcomes for patients and families or can empower patient/caregiver use of adjunctive and complementary approaches to control skin/comorbidity symptoms. This research should advance knowledge of the management of childhood eczema, especially those with moderate to severe disease, taking into account patient/caregiver/family preferences.

Innovations in Practice Care

Applications to address this research priority should focus on investigating opportunities and mechanisms to facilitate optimal treatment of eczema and associated comorbidities in academic – or diverse community-based health care settings to enhance physician and patient-reported education and outcomes. Strong preference will be given to proposals that examine collaborative multidisciplinary care or considerations related to socioeconomic issues or healthcare disparities.

Patient/Caregiver Burden of Disease

Proposals in this area should build on NEA’s 2017 Atopic Dermatitis Burden of Disease Audit to further examine aspects of patient or caregiver burden that can negatively impact quality of life, or have academic, occupational, or economic impacts. Examples include emotional or psychosocial impacts, family dynamics, effects of skin pain or sleep loss, or other physical or social limitations; these may be further stratified by patient sub-populations.

RFA Process

Timeline

• RFA Announcement: June 1, 2018
• Submission Deadline: September 14, 2018
• Grants Award Notification: December 2018
• Project Timeframe: January 1 – December 31, 2019

Budget

An estimate of costs to conduct the research in a budget outline format is required for each RFA submission.

Eligibility

The principal investigator must be personally and actively responsible for the conduct of the proposed research, and eligible to apply for research grants under the guidelines of the applicant’s host institution. The principal investigator need not be a United States citizen and the research need not take place in the United States.