Innovative dermatology research transforming patients’ lives
Sheffield Dermatology Research (SDR) is focused on research to develop and bring-to-clinic, new treatments for atopic dermatitis - synonym: atopic eczema (AD). Our research spans from the prevention of AD to the development and testing (clinical trials) of innovative new medicines to treat atopic dermatitis.
New therapies for atopic dermatitis transforming patients’ lives
Gene environment interactions in atopic dermatitis
Skin biomarkers for atopic eczema therapy evaluation (SMART): an example of an SDR Clinical Trial
SDR has a special interest in the prevention of atopic dermatitis. This involves both mechanistic studies and large collaborative clinical trials. We investigate how the environment of a baby interacts with their skin to induce the development of atopic dermatitis.
If you would like to participate in a particular study or SDR research in general you can register your interest here.
Atopic dermatitis: a systemic disease
A major focus is on how topical wash products, emollients, oils and water itself, affect the skin barrier and how this leads to the development of atopic dermatitis. This is helping to identify treatment approaches with the optimum effect on the development and maintenance of the skin barrier.
Healthy and defective skin barrier
We specialise in treating children and adults with the most severe atopic dermatitis and see patients from anywhere in the UK. At Sheffield Children’s Hospital we have developed an integrated atopic dermatitis – allergy/immunology – psychiatry service, designed to manage the most complex patients.
We lead clinical trials of new treatments for atopic dermatitis at the Clinical Research Facilities at Sheffield Children’s Hospital (SCH) for children and at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) Royal Hallamshire Hospital for adults. SDR is one of the leading centres internationally for many of the trials for new biologics, small molecules and topicals for atopic dermatitis.
New therapeutic targets for atopic dermatitis
SDR has created a dedicated clinical research facility for skin barrier and biomarker-driven research. The Skin Barrier Team has established a unique combination of techniques to assess how topical wash products, emollients and topical/systemic pharmaceutical agents affect the integrity of the skin barrier and inflammation in normal and AD skin. Biomarkers obtained using these techniques provide novel non-invasive tools for quantifying the effects of treatments on the skin.
SDR Skin Barrier Research facility
A unique collection of biomarkers for measuring the effects of skin therapies
Monitoring the effects of new therapies for Atopic Dermatitis using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
These atopic dermatitis biomarkers are being used in experimental medicine clinical trials to stratify patients according to clinical response and safety parameters. This information can be used to determine how long a treatment should be used for, the optimum dose, the effect on some comorbidities and inform health economic evaluations.
Comparison of the effect of tacrolimus ointment and betamethasone valerate 0.1% on epidermal thickness using OCT
Thank you very much to two wonderful boys for this beautiful NHS rainbow