Clinical Trials Info:

Normal Skin Clinical Studies

Cutaneous Immunology of Acral Skin

Enrollment status: Open

When inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis occur on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand, it greatly impacts the patient’s quality of life more so than when they occur on other body sites. Inflammation on the hands and feet tend to be much more difficult to control than inflammation at other body sites. This suggests that the inflammatory skin disease process behaves differently in the hands and feet versus other areas of the skin. The purpose of this study is to characterize the nature of the skins immune system in both healthy and diseased skin collected from the hands (palms) and feet (soles).

Study coordinator: Nicole Nechiporchik, (734) 232-0562 or [email protected]
Please reference Derm #: 721

Study of Healthy Skin

Enrollment status: Open

The purpose of this study is to obtain human skin samples from healthy (non-diseased) skin that will later be studied in the laboratory. We may perform several types of studies using the healthy (non-diseased) skin sample(s) you donate. These studies may include an analysis of the different proteins and other molecules, such as RNA and DNA, that are present in your skin samples. Your skin may be compared to skin from other subjects with a variety of skin problems that we have collected from other approved protocols.

Study coordinator: Nicole Nechiporchik, (734) 232-0562 or [email protected]
Please reference Derm #: 712

Personalized Medicine through Integration of Immune Phenotypes in Autoimmune Skin Disease

Enrollment status: Open

We aim to expand our ability to pick the right treatments for patients with diseases such as lupus and psoriasis. To do this, we need to develop a better understanding of how these diseases behave and respond to treatments over time. Through the Taubman Medical Research Institute, we have been granted funds to follow a cohort of patients to better understand the specific skin and immune system abnormalities that cause diseases like lupus or psoriasis. Our study is Personalized Medicine through Integration of Immune Phenotypes in Autoimmune Skin Diseases. We would like you to consider joining our cohort. This will mean that you will have a research visit after most of your regularly scheduled clinic visits during which we will collect information such as pain and fatigue levels, medication changes, and disease activity. We will also ask for a blood sample at every visit and occasionally a skin biopsy to study the skin responses (but not at every visit). We will use this information to map out your immune responses and how the medications change them in relation to your clinical improvement. You will be compensated for your time for each research visit.

Study coordinator: Lina Nahlawi, (734) 936-4075 or [email protected]
Please reference Derm #: 737

Shining a Light on the Drivers of Photosensitivity in Systemic Lupus

Enrollment status: Open

This study seeks to understand the differences in responses to ultraviolet light between healthy people and lupus patients- both those that get rashes from the sun and those that don’t.  The study is a two day study.  The first day involves a small dose of UV light to the hip or buttock and the second day involves small biopsies from the exposed skin.

Study coordinator: Amy Hurst, (734) 936-3889 or [email protected]

Single cell Transcriptomic Resolution of Atopic Dermatitis and Prurigo Nodularis

The purpose of this study is to collect skin samples from people with eczema/dermatitis, or prurigo nodularis, and from those who don’t, also known as healthy controls. The samples, along with the clinical data, will be used by Dr. Gudjonsson for exploratory research, that may help him improve the ability to predict, detect, and monitor diseases and their progression. As well, exploratory research may lead to the development of new therapies, research methods or technologies.

Study coordinator: Lina Nahlawi, (734) 936-4075 or [email protected]
Please reference Derm #: 749