# Circadian Rhythms of Skin Barrier, Pruritus and Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis

> **NIH NIH K23** · LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO · 2021 · $168,480

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This application entitled “Circadian Rhythms of Skin Barrier, Pruritus and Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis,” is
being submitted by Dr. Anna Fishbein at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine/ Ann & Robert H.
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago for a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award. Dr.
Fishbein is a pediatrician, allergist and immunologist with a background in translational research.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common chronic skin disease of childhood, affecting 10% of US children.
Nocturnal eczema is the itchy nighttime exacerbation of atopic dermatitis (AD) that afflicts more than 50% of
children with AD, resulting in devastating scratch and sleep disturbance. Circadian rhythms are 24 hour biological
cycles that appear to underlie the nocturnal worsening of atopic dermatitis.
The objective of this project is to elucidate how circadian rhythm dysregulation is related to underlying AD
pathophysiology. Dr. Fishbein's novel approach will apply state of the art tools to test her overarching hypothesis
that the circadian system drives skin barrier disruption, pruritus and inflammation in nocturnal atopic dermatitis
flare. She will test the specific hypotheses that 1) blunting of the normal skin barrier function rhythm in AD is
associated with increased scratch and sleep disturbance and 2) melatonin increases release of TH2/TH22
cytokines that are known to disrupt skin barrier function and increase itch. Modified constant routine protocol (28
hours in a controlled-laboratory setting with dim light) will isolate the contribution of the circadian system to atopic
dermatitis. The specific aims to test the hypotheses are: 1) To determine how changes in the skin barrier function
rhythm exacerbate nocturnal atopic dermatitis flare; and 2) To determine the role of melatonin in atopic
inflammation in AD.
Through the proposed research, Dr. Fishbein will work towards her long-term goal of becoming an independent
translational physician investigator by developing chronotherapy (timed based treatment) for atopic dermatitis.
Her short-term goal is to apply circadian biology to study skin barrier, pruritus and inflammation to determine the
mechanism of nocturnal AD flare. Her training goals for this award are to: 1) build a foundation in circadian
research techniques and molecular assessment of rhythms to study inflammatory skin disease, 2) enhance her
knowledge base in immunology with a focus on circadian rhythms in T-cell biology, 3) advance personalized
medicine for children with AD and 4) become an independently funded investigator. Dr. Fishbein's clinical training
and prior experience in patient-oriented research make her an ideal candidate to accomplish this multidisciplinary
project. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Northwestern University provides an optimal
training environment with top-notch expertise. Primary mentor Dr. Phyllis Zee is an expert in circadian biology...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10252912
- **Project number:** 5K23AR075108-03
- **Recipient organization:** LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna B Fishbein
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $168,480
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-25 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10252912

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10252912, Circadian Rhythms of Skin Barrier, Pruritus and Inflammation in Atopic Dermatitis (5K23AR075108-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10252912. Licensed CC0.

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