Volunteers Wanted
Have you been diagnosed with vitiligo?
Would you like to take part in a research study
to help those who have been diagnosed?
We are looking for both healthy volunteers and persons diagnosed with vitiligo to take part in a research study.
The biology of vitiligo is poorly understood and while there are many treatment options, many carry the risk of side effects or are only temporarily effective. We are performing a study to improve our understanding of the biology of vitiligo. Subjects will be asked to come to 2 study visits. We will be collecting skin samples from both patients diagnosed with vitiligo as well as healthy adults for this study.
We will compare pigment cells from the two groups to identify differences that may contribute to progression of vitiligo. This information may allow us to develop improved treatments for vitiligo.
Study visits will take place at:
The Dermatology Clinical Studies Unit
NYULMC Ambulatory Care Center
240 East 38th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
For more information, please contact:
212-263-5244
Dermpharm@nyumc.org
Phototherapy Clinical Trial
for Generalized Vitiligo
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ginette Okoye
Study Location:
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Department of Dermatology, Baltimore, MD.
Vitiligo is a chronic acquired skin disease of pigmentation that affects patients’ quality of life across all degrees of involvement and severity. Phototherapy is a clinically indicated treatment for skin lesions. In this study, we are going to evaluate the efficacy and safety of phototherapy in the treatment of vitiligo as well as impact on quality of life.
Inclusion Criteria:
Must be over the age of 18
Must have a diagnosis of vitiligo that involves both sides of the body.
Participation Involves:
Phototherapy treatments (3 times per week for 6 months)
Questionnaires on how vitiligo affects the quality of your life
Small skin biopsies of your skin
If you are interested in participating or would like more information:
Contact: Dermatology Research
Phone: 410-502-7546 or Email: ctrep@jhmi.edu
Open-label Pilot Study of
Abatacept for the Treatment of Vitiligo
Principal Investigator: Dr. Victor Huang
Study Location:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Clinical Research Program
221 Longwood Ave. Boston, MA 02115
Abatacept has been shown to decrease T cell activity and reduce symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Similar pathways have been shown to be involved in vitiligo.
This study is seeking adult patients with active vitiligo to receive 24 weekly self-administered injections of abatacept, to see if the vitiligo lesions stop spreading, and start to repigment.
A 32 week follow-up visit will be performed to evaluate secondary endpoints as well.
Inclusion Criteria:
Must be over the age of 18
Must have actively progressive vitiligo (defined as development of new lesions or worsening of existing lesions within the past 6 months) covering at least 5% of body surface area
Subjects receiving treatment at the time of screening will be eligible providing they undergo a wash out period prior to starting the study
Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be using an acceptable method of contraception throughout the study and for up to 10 weeks after the last dose of study drug, and have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test result (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 0 to 48 hours before the first dose of study drug
Sexually active fertile men must use effective birth control if their partners are WOCBP
Exclusion Criteria:
Pregnant or breastfeeding patients
Patients with segmental, acrofacial, or universal vitiligo
Patients with evidence of white hairs within the majority (>50%) of their vitiligo lesions
Patients currently on any other systemic biologic medication, current use of Abatacept, or any other systemic biologic medication within 2 months of study
Andrea Craft at: 617-525-3161 or ACRAFT1@partners.org
Behind Segmental Vitiligo
Scientists from three United States academic centers are collaborating to identify how and why the immune system initiates an autoimmune attack against specific pigment cells in segmental vitiligo. By understanding why this happens, new treatments targeting this process can be designed.
In segmental vitiligo, pigment cells on one side and area of the body are destroyed leaving a white area behind. One theory as to why this specific area loses its pigment cells is the pigment cells in segmental vitiligo may express different proteins from other pigment and non-pigment cells in the body. In order to identify these differences, a thin piece of repigmented (regain of color) vitiligo skin and sample of blood is needed.
Your participation is vitally needed
Eligibility requirements:
Ages: 7-89 years of age
Diagnosis of segmental vitiligo
At least 1 spot of repigmentation (regain of color) within the segmental vitiligo
Exclusion Criteria: The following will not be eligible:
Diagnosis of generalized vitiligo
What will happen if I participate?
A small amount of blood will be collected in the same manner as blood drawn at your regular doctor’s office.
A superficial piece of tissue (shave biopsy) will be taken from the area of segmental vitiligo. Shave biopsies are a common procedure performed at dermatology offices.
To participate, or for more information: Contact: Dr. Tasneem Mohammad
Phone: 313-916-6964 or Email: tmohamm2@hfhs.org
Role Of Immunosuppressive Cells In The Development Of Vitiligo
Patients with vitiligo often have either a personal or family history of other
autoimmune conditions. This association may be due to a common underlying
immune mediated mechanism. As humans have an active immune system to fight
off infections and viruses, a check-and-balance system exists to keep the immune system from attacking your own cells. When the immune system attacks the body’s own cells, we call this an autoimmune condition. In our study, we are trying to assess the role of regulatory cells for the immune system in the development of vitiligo. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to find new therapeutic strategies for autoimmune vitiligo to stop an ongoing immune attack on pigment cells in active vitiligo
Eligibility requirements:
Ages: 18-89 years of age
Diagnosis of generalized vitiligo
No personal or family history of other autoimmune conditions is required.
Exclusion Criteria: The following will not be eligible:
Women who are lactating, pregnant or planning to become pregnant
What will happen if I participate?
Demographic (age, gender, ethnicity) and medical history will be collected.
A small sample of blood will be collected in the same way that blood is drawn at your regular doctor’s office.
To participate, or for more information: Contact: Dr. Tasneem Mohammad
Phone: 313-916-6964 or Email: tmohamm2@hfhs.org
Comparative Study Using Dermabrasion versus CO2 Laser
and Collagen Dressing versus Vaseline Gauze in MKTP
Principle Investigator: Iltefat Hamzavi, MD
Study Location:
Henry Ford Department of Dermatology,
3031 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI. 48202
The melanocyte keratinocyte transplant procedure (MKTP) involves transplantation of the skin cells that produce pigment from your normal skin to the depigmented skin. The procedure takes approximately 4 hours and is done under local anesthesia.
This is a prospective, open-label, parallel study comparing two different techniques for preparing the depigmented skin (carbon dioxide laser versus dermabrasion) and comparing two different wound dressings (collagen dressing versus vaseline impregnated gauze) for the melanocyte keratinocyte transplant procedure.
Eligibility Requirements:
Must be 18 years of age or older
Must have depigmented patches of skin
Exclusion Criteria:
History of acral vitiligo (vitiligo on the hands or feet)
Unstable vitiligo, defined as any new or enlarging areas of
depigmentation within the last 6 months)
History of thickened scars or keloids
History of koebnerization (getting new areas of
depigmentation at sites of trauma, such as a cut, scrape, or burn)
The vitiligo patch will be divided into four quadrants. Each quadrant will be treated with the melanocyte keratinocyte transplant procedure, as follows:
CO2 laser for denuding the epithelium Collagen dressing
CO2 laser for denuding the epithelium Vaseline impregnated gauze dressing
Dermabrasion for denuding the epithelium Collagen Dressing
Dermabrasion for denuding the epithelium Vaseline impregnated gauze dressing
The patient will return to the clinic for the dressing removal 1 week post-procedure. Repigmentation of the treated areas will be assessed by in-person, or remote examination (emailed photographs) at monthly intervals (1-6 months) after MKTP.
To participate, or for more information, Contact: Dr. Tasneem Mohammad
Phone: 313-916-6964 or Email: tmohamm2@hfhs.org
all found on:http://newsletter.vitiligosupport.org/index.php?action=social&c=577ef1154f3240ad5b9b413aa7346a1e.282