Purpose of the SkIN Canada Demo Projects:

SkIN Canada is developing data infrastructure and resources to facilitate multicentre research. To demonstrate proof-of-principle, SkIN Canada sought to initially partner with research projects that were early in their development phase. In November 2020, the network issued a request for proposals and selected two multicentre projects that had already secured funding and were in need of data infrastructure. SkIN Canada’s partnership in these projects has informed the development of core data infrastructure and services based on a REDCap platform.

Canadian Atopic dermatitis Cohort for Translational Immunology and imaging (CACTI):

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) is clinically treated as a single entity, but atopic dermatitis may be the final skin-based presentation of a varied group of conditions. There are a multitude of distinct physiological causes including skin barrier defects, environmental and microbial triggers and dysregulated immune response that can contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. Several different treatment strategies are used to address these varied causes with variable success.

CACTI’s objective is to resolve knowledge gaps by creating a cohort of adult atopic dermatitis patients that do not respond to topical therapy. Funded by the Canadian Dermatology Foundation, this cohort will be leveraged to establish subtypes of the condition that can aid in individualizing treatment, test advanced imaging techniques to measure the condition, and establish guidelines for using phototherapy to treat eczema.

SkIN Canada helped develop a centralized database to coordinate and record data and tissue sample collection from multiple study sites.

The investigators are:

Dr. Aaron Drucker, MD, FRCPC; Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto (Lead investigator)
Dr. Carolyn Jack, MD, FRCPC, McGill University Health Centre
Dr. Sunil Kalia, MD, FRCPC, University of British Colombia
Dr. Vincent Piguet, MD, FRCPC, Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto

Canadian Morphea Registry (C-MoRe):

While localized scleroderma (morphea) has significant impact on patients’ quality of life, the molecular cause of the condition is not well understood. As such, there are no targeted therapies for morphea, and the only current management strategy is to try to slow down the condition’s progression with immunosuppressants.

The aim of this project is to develop a national morphea registry that will collect longitudinal clinical and laboratory data and tissue samples. The creation of this registry will enable skin researchers to study the causes and risk factors of morphea, the burden of disease and identify biomarkers that can aid in treatment. C-MoRe is working in collaboration with patients’ partners (Canadian Skin Patients Alliance) and is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of investigators with expertise in pediatric and adult dermatology and rheumatology.

SkIN Canada is creating an online data capture platform that will enable data and tissue collection by investigators from across Canada.

These investigators include:

Dr. Elena Netchiporouk, McGill University (Lead investigator)
Dr. Elizabeth O’Brien, McGill University
Dr. Gaelle Chédeville, McGill University
Dr. Kevin Pehr, McGill University
Dr. Catherine McCuaig, Université de Montréal
Dr. Mariam Pyram, Université de Montréal
Dr. Jean-Philippe Proulx-Gauthier, Université Laval
Dr. Marie-Claude Dionne, Université Laval
Dr. Alexandra Bruns, Université de Sherbrooke
Dr. Lyne Bissonnette, Université de Sherbrooke
Dr. Mylène Veilleux, Université de Sherbrooke
Dr. Elena Pope, University of Toronto
Dr. Ronald Laxer, University of Toronto
Dr. Cathryn Sibbald, University of Toronto
Dr. Yuka Asai, Queen’s University
Dr. Johannes Roth, University of Ottawa
Dr. Roberta Berard, Western University
Dr. Michelle Batthish, McMaster University
Dr. Robert Gniadecki, University of Alberta
Dr. Dax Rumsey, University of Alberta
Dr. Nadia Luca, University of Calgary
Dr. Heinrike Schmeling, University of Calgary
Dr. Vimal Prajapati, University of Calgary
Dr. David Cabral, University of British Columbia
Dr. Kristin Houghton, University of British Columbia
Dr. Andrea Human, University of British Columbia
Dr. Jan Dutz, University of British Columbia
Dr. Paul Dancey, Memorial University
Dr. Irina Turchin, Dalhousie University
Dr. Adam Huber, Dalhousie University
Dr. Mehul Jariwala, University of Saskatchewan