Atopic Dermatitis Research Network Clinical Research Centers

The Atopic Dermatitis Research Network program is administered by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program uses a cooperative agreement mechanism to support large, multi component research centers that integrate clinical and translational science. The initiative is designed to advance understanding of atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects both children and adults and is associated with immune dysfunction, impaired skin barrier function, and increased susceptibility to infections. The program reflects the NIH mission to support biomedical research that improves public health and expands scientific knowledge in immunologic and infectious disease areas. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and support centers that investigate the biological mechanisms underlying atopic dermatitis, with emphasis on chronic inflammation and skin defense systems. Research supported under this program may include studies on genetic and epigenetic factors, immune responses, microbiome interactions, and the skin gut axis. The program encourages both basic and clinical research, including pilot clinical trials and observational studies, provided that the majority of work involves human subjects or human derived materials. The initiative explicitly excludes large phase III or IV clinical trials and projects that rely solely on animal models without a strong human research component. Funding supports a structured, multi core research center model. Each funded center must include an Administrative Core, a Data Stewardship Core, and at least two Research Projects, with optional Clinical and Scientific Cores. The Administrative Core manages operations and coordination, while the Data Stewardship Core ensures data management, integration, and sharing. Clinical and Scientific Cores provide specialized support such as patient recruitment or laboratory services. Research Projects must be scientifically independent yet synergistic, contributing to a unified research theme. Funds may also support infrastructure activities, participation in collaborative programs, and centralized data sharing through designated platforms. Eligibility for this program is broad and includes a wide range of U.S. based institutions such as higher education institutions, nonprofits, for profit organizations, and government entities at various levels. However, foreign organizations and non domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. Applicants must complete required federal registrations, including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, and must ensure that principal investigators have valid credentials and identifiers. Only one application per institution is allowed, and investigators may only serve as a principal investigator on one application under this program. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using NIH approved systems such as ASSIST or institutional system to system solutions. Applicants must follow detailed multi project application instructions, including preparing separate components for each core and research project. Required materials include detailed research plans, budgets, data management plans, and human subjects documentation where applicable. Applications are evaluated through a peer review process based on scientific merit, significance, innovation, investigator qualifications, and approach. Additional considerations include the integration of research components and the overall impact of the proposed center. The application timeline includes an opening date in late August 2026 and a submission deadline in late September 2026. Applications are reviewed in early 2027, followed by advisory council review and anticipated project start in mid 2027. Awards are expected to support projects for a five year period. There is no cost sharing requirement for this program. Contact information is provided through NIH program offices, including a dedicated email for scientific inquiries. The program does not specify recurring cycles explicitly but follows typical NIH reissue patterns, suggesting periodic future opportunities.

Ensure strong integration across research projects and cores and align with review criteria emphasizing significance innovation and approach