The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has awarded grants for two new studies as part of its research grants program to expand scientific knowledge and understanding of the disorder’s causes and progression. Funded exclusively by individual donations from rosacea sufferers worldwide, the grants program has awarded more than $1.7 million for over 80 studies since 2000, with the goal of increasing scientific knowledge of rosacea’s potential causes and mechanisms of action that may lead to improvements in its treatment, prevention and potential cure.
“The NRS has been key in transforming rosacea from a poorly understood disease whose impact and prevalence were underestimated to one of the most common diagnoses in dermatology offices today,” said Dr. Yolanda Helfrich, professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical School and a member of the NRS Medical Advisory Board. “With global prevalence now estimated to be 5%, we are delighted to support researchers around the world whose insights and findings continually advance and fine-tune our knowledge and understanding.”
Dr. Arun Kumar, assistant professor at the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded $12,500 for his study, “Network pharmacology-guided dissection of dermal vascular inflammation and myeloid cell crosstalk in rosacea for evidence-based drug repurposing.” To better understand how the body’s immune system cells and blood vessels interact to cause and maintain rosacea, the study will use advanced computer-based methods to analyze large amounts of existing genetic and molecular data already generated by researchers around the world. Notably, Dr. Kumar said, this systems-level approach allows researchers to examine the disease as an interconnected network, and will enable identification of the most important biological pathways, genes and molecular networks involved in rosacea.
The study also aims to identify existing medications that might be repurposed for rosacea treatment. This will improve understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that cause the disease while simultaneously identifying promising therapeutic opportunities and new biological targets for future treatment development.
Drs. Zeina Tannous, professor, and Jana Dib Al Jabout, third-year resident, in the department of dermatology at the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, Achrafieh, Lebanon, were awarded $12,500 for their study, “Beyond the skin: Helicobacter pylori infection and rosacea in a high-prevalence eastern Mediterranean population.” The researchers noted that the prevalence of H. pylori infection, which has been implicated in rosacea’s pathogenesis, reaches approximately 52% in Lebanon, providing a unique environment to examine the association across varying rosacea phenotypes and severities in the Middle East and North Africa region. The study will assess rosacea’s severity according to the physical areas affected, the lesion count, and its impact on quality of life. The researchers said the results will also inform the design of a subsequent interventional trial evaluating the effect of H. pylori eradication on rosacea outcomes.
Researchers interested in applying for grants may obtain forms and instructions through the research grants section of the NRS website or by contacting the National Rosacea Society at 4619 N. Ravenswood Ave., Ste. 103 Chicago, IL 60640, by telephone at 1-888-662-5874, or by email at info@rosacea.org. The deadline for proposal submission is July 2, 2027.
Because the cause of rosacea is unknown, a high priority is given to studies relating to its pathogenesis, progression, mechanism of action, cell biology and potential genetic factors. Proposals relating to epidemiology, predisposition, quality of life and relationships with environmental and lifestyle factors may also be considered.