National Eczema Society is so encouraged by the range of research studies underway into the causes and treatment of eczema, after many years of eczema being largely overlooked by the research community. There are around 70 new treatments in development for atopic eczema, giving great hope for the future.
Knowledge gained from research into other inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, has helped our understanding of the inflammatory processes in eczema. The UK is a world leader in immunology research. Medicines used to treat other inflammatory conditions are being repurposed to treat eczema, resulting in more new drugs being developed faster.
The Society works with the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – and its equivalents in Scotland and Wales – to contribute a patient perspective in the assessment of new medicines. This is a vital role the Society plays, representing the collective voice of people affected by eczema.
National Eczema Society is actively involved in supporting eczema research. We participate in study steering groups, provide patient insights for research projects, promote trials, and work with many universities and companies developing new drug treatments. We do this to help ensure research projects have the greatest chance of success in findings cures and treatments. Some initiatives, like the international BIOMAP project (www.biomap-imi.eu), offer hugely exciting opportunities to better understand the causes of eczema and disease progression, opening the way for personalised medicine.
Perhaps the Society’s most important role is to ensure the experiences and views of people with eczema are understood and respected by researchers. Our charity is able to provide a unique collective voice. That’s why the Society is approached so frequently and why we strive so hard to support researchers to achieve the medical breakthroughs we all want and deserve.
Dupilumab is the first biologic medical treatment for people with more severe eczema and has the potential to transform the lives of those for whom current treatments don’t work effectively. It was introduced by the NHS for use with adults in 2018, and has since been made available to adolescents aged 12-17 years. Regulatory approvals are being sought to extend the use of dupilumab to treat younger children (aged 6-12 years) in the future.
Do email info@eczema.org if you would like to get more involved in the charity’s work with researchers.