The establishment of a large case collection of childhood atopic dermatitis: a resource for genetic research (360G-Wellcome-090066_Z_09_Z)

Atopic dermatitis (AD; eczema) is the commonest inflammatory disease of childhood and causes a very significant burden of disease. AD leads to a markedly increased risk of associated food allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis. While mutations in the skin barrier protein filaggrin are the strongest genetic risks identified to date, the genetic basis of AD remains poorly understood and there is a pressing need for additional large scale genome wide association studies (GWAS) on well-phenotyped, et hnically homogeneous populations to identify further genetic factors. This Biomedical Resources Grant has the key objective of generating a large collection of well-phenotyped paediatric AD cases suitable for GWAS and other studies investigating the genetic susceptibility of atopic dermatitis. In order to maximise efficiency, standardise clinical governance and quality of data and sample collection, the application will utilise established Clinical Research Centres including the Wellcome Trus t Clinical Research Facility in Manchester. To ensure the collection is processed rapidly, the collaboration will be performed in 9 clinical centres where large numbers of children with atopic dermatitis regularly attend for secondary and tertiary care. To ensure sustainability and compatibility with other collections, we will regularly collaborate with the two other leading groups in the field.