ANNOUNCEMENT (July 2025) – The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GW SMHS) Department of Dermatology has been awarded a Competitive Clinical Research Grant by Eli Lilly and Company to evaluate the effectiveness of Atopic Triad (atopic dermatitis, asthma, and seasonal allergies) screening and education to reduce the burden of Atopic Dermatitis and its related comorbidities. Further, appropriate patients will be initiated on an U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for Atopic Dermatitis and followed to assess the impact on said comorbidities.
Since 2021, the GW SMHS Department of Dermatology has held free, monthly teledermatology Help fair/clinics as a means to improve access to dermatologic education and care to the residents of Ward 7 and Ward 8. Atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and psoriasis/psoriatic comorbidities have all been key foci for the program, which has served more than 500 patients to date.
The treatment, Lebrikizumab, is a medication used to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy. The Atopic Triad Screening involves assessing patient history for eczema, allergies, and asthma. Notably, up to 80 percent of children with Atopic Dermatitis may develop asthma and/or allergic rhinitis later in childhood, according to a study published in 2003 in the journal, Pediatrics.
“As clinicians who are integrated into the community in Washington, D.C., Wards 7 and 8, this grant will enable us to enhance our scope with the goal of supporting the overall health and well-being of the community,” said Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, chair of the Department of Dermatology and principal investigator on the grant.
Through this research grant, GW clinicians will evaluate the impact of early atopic triad screening on disease management and health outcomes, assess the efficacy of educational interventions on improving the knowledge and management of atopic conditions in vulnerable communities, assess the clinical impact of Lebrikizumab on atopic dermatitis severity and allergic comorbidities in pediatric patients; and evaluate patient-reported outcomes and quality of pre- and post-Lebrikizumab treatment.
“Our goal is to enhance clinical outcomes, empower families through education, and generate critical real-world data on the effectiveness of Lebrikizumab in diverse communities,” said Christina Tolete, third-year GW SMHS medical student, dermatology-rheumatology research fellow, and clinical on this project. “The award reflects the department’s continued leadership in clinical research and its commitment to excellence in dermatologic care,” said Tolete.
The grant was awarded to the team in spring 2025, and will begin on Oct. 1, 2025. Participant recruitment will begin in November 2025, Atopic Triad screening and education will launch in December 2025, and Lebrikizumab treatment will begin in January 2026 and will span a full 12 months per participant.
