Clinical trials in dermatology clinical research enhance our understanding and treatment of skin conditions, and their results are used to establish practice guidelines by organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatology is a subspecialty in medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of skin disorders. The field of dermatology clinical research has been rapidly evolving in recent years. The goals of researchers, sponsors, and dermatology contract research organizations (CROs) with dermatology clinical trials is to deepen our understanding of various skin conditions, devise preventative measures, and develop effective treatment approaches. This, in turn, enhances the quality of life for millions of individuals around who are afflicted with skin disorders. Read on as we explore ten current trends and exciting new research transforming the landscape of dermatology clinical research! 

 

1. Telemedicine: Bridging Distances

Telemedicine is not a new concept in the field of medicine, especially with the role it played in the healthcare industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is an innovative approach that merges the delivery of health services with advances in technology. Telemedicine allows physicians to remotely attend to patients, thereby eliminating existing geographical barriers and improving the accessibility and convenience of healthcare services. This positive impact is especially crucial for rural population areas where timely patient care can be challenging due to physical distance. In dermatology clinical research, telemedicine is particularly beneficial in that it enables sponsors and clinical trial research sites to extend their pool of potential participants to a more diverse and underrepresented population. This is a crucial step for enhancing the inclusivity and generalizability of their studies. 

 

2. Artificial Intelligence: A New Era of Dermatology Clinical Research

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are playing increasingly significant roles in dermatology, with applications in diagnosing and managing conditions such as melanoma and psoriasis, assessing ulcers, and gene expression profiling. AI algorithms have also shown potential in differentiating benign and malignant lesions, predicting clinical outcomes, and improving diagnosis in remote and resource-limited healthcare settings. Not only could this result in more swift and efficient diagnosis timelines for clinicians and patients, but AI algorithms may also help predict disease progression and potential responses to treatments. However, challenges remain, including the need for more diverse data sets and addressing barriers such as potential errors and data protection issues. 

 

3. Targeted Therapies: A Focused Approach

The advent and development of targeted therapies is another significant trend in dermatology research. These innovative treatments work by targeting a specific genetic or molecular feature of abnormal molecular pathophysiology in skin disorders, resulting in fewer potential side effects and improved efficacy. Let’s take the cause of atopic dermatitis (AD), a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease with a significant impact on patients’ quality of life and socio-economic burden. Recent advancements in our understanding of AD pathogenesis have led to an expansion of the therapeutic pipeline. Traditionally, individuals with moderate to severe skin disorders would be treated most often in the following treatments: 

• Topical anti-inflammatory therapies, most of which demonstrate suboptimal efficacy in this subgroup of patients 

• Systemic therapies, such as methotrexate or cyclosporine, which are known to have poor safety profiles with long-term use 

The approvals of drugs like dupilumab, Upadacitinib, and tralokinumab have expanded the therapeutic strategies for moderate to severe AD. Today, over 70 new compounds are in development, offering potential for numerous targeted therapies to make available for patients with AD. 

 

4. Microbiome Research: The Invisible Allies

The skin’s microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms which play an instrumental role in maintaining skin health. Current research in this realm is investigating how alterations in the microbiome can give rise to skin disorders and how it can be manipulated for therapeutic purposes. For example, a study by Rauer et al. found that the skin microbiome of patients with moderate-to-severe AD is dominated by the bacterial species, Staphylococcus aureus. The diversity of the skin microbiome correlated with the severity of AD, with lower diversity in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin. Interestingly, high AD severity was also associated with low evenness in the microbiome composition. 

 

5. Personalized Medicine: Tailored Treatments

The approach of personalized medicine is gaining momentum in dermatology research. It involves tailoring treatment plans to the individual patient, considering their genetic makeup and lifestyle factors. This personalized strategy leads to improved treatment outcomes and enhanced patient satisfaction. In the case of psoriasis, another common chronic inflammatory skin condition, there is ongoing research applying transcriptomic and proteomic profiling to identify molecules that are differentially expressed in these patients. Although there are currently no widely used or approved biomarker-based methods for therapy selection in psoriasis or AD, the evidence suggests baseline skin and blood biomarkers may predict response to therapy. 

 

6. Wearable Technology: Real-time Monitoring

Wearable technology is another rising trend that is transforming patient care by enabling decentralized healthcare in dermatology clinical research, personalized health guidance, and real-time data collection. These gadgets can monitor patients’ skin conditions in real-time, providing valuable insights into disease progression and the impact of various treatments. Examples include at-home digital health monitoring for blood glucose and blood pressure, which can be synchronized with electronic health records for effective disease management. 

 

7. Stem Cell Research: Unlocking Regenerative Potential

Stem cell research holds the key to revolutionizing the field of dermatology by offering new treatment possibilities for currently incurable conditions. Skin inflammatory diseases like AD and psoriasis significantly impact patients’ quality of life and are difficult to cure due to the side effects many patients may experience with first-line treatments. Both AD and psoriasis are mainly caused by an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. Therefore, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) derivatives, which have regenerative, differentiation, and immunoregulation abilities, are currently being explored as potential treatments in these disease indications.  

 

8. Nanotechnology: Microscopic Solutions

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on a molecular scale, is showing considerable potential to enable the direct delivery of drugs to the skin and the use of nanoparticles to enhance the effectiveness of topical treatments. In addition to corticosteroids and antibiotics, AD patients will often also rely on natural products as an alternative to relieving their symptoms of the disease. However, these products are also associated with instability, poor solubility, and low bioavailability. Currently, novel nanoformulation-based solutions have been developed specifically to optimize the delivery and efficacy of these natural drugs in AD treatment. 

 

 9. Genetic Research: Decoding DNA

The next trend to look out for in the field of dermatology is innovations with genetic research, which plays a pivotal role in identifying the genes responsible for various skin conditions. This leads to a better understanding of these disorders at their roots and allows for the development of more targeted and effective treatments. Although this tool is well-known in biomedical sciences, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) gene editing technology is currently being used to study various skin disorders, including genodermatoses, inflammatory disorders, and infections. Furthermore, the identification of novel genetic modifiers is enabling the translation of these findings into novel approaches for treating a number of genetic skin disorders, including hypotrichosis and psoriasis. 

 

10. Patient-Centric Approaches in Dermatology Clinical Research

In the contemporary era of healthcare, dermatology research is increasingly focusing on the patient’s perspective, especially given the heavy psychological and emotional burden associated with dermatologic disorders like alopecia or acne. Patient centricity revolves around a sponsor, its dermatology CRO, research sites, and other clinical trial stakeholders considering the patient’s preferences and experiences in the design and execution of studies. As a result, this type of inclusive approach can significantly improve patient engagement and satisfaction with treatment.

Visit this webinar from our TFS Intellect Hub to learn about how patient-centric approaches are revolutionizing pediatric rare disease studies.   

 

The Landscape of Dermatology Clinical Research

The field of dermatology clinical research is on an exciting trajectory of rapid advancement, with numerous groundbreaking trends shaping the future of skin health. These trends, from telemedicine and AI to stem cell and microbiome research, hold significant promise of furthering our understanding of skin conditions and leading to the development of more effective, personalized treatments. As technology continues to evolve and reshape the landscape of healthcare and medicine, we can anticipate even more innovation from researchers dedicated to improving the lives of patients with skin conditions around the world. 

 

About TFS HealthScience CRO 

TFS HealthScience is a global dermatology CRO that supports biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout their entire clinical development journey. In partnership with customers, we build solution-driven teams working for a healthier future. As a trusted CRO partner throughout the entire clinical development journey for novel therapies, we have established a strong partnership with our customers, supported by solution-driven teams working for a healthier future. Visit our website to learn more about the solutions TFS can offer for your next dermatology clinical trial or connect with a TFS representative today!