# Core 1: Translational and Clinical Resource Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $310,979

## Abstract

ABSTRACT 
The Translational and Clinical Resource Core (TRAC Core) of the AACORT was developed to 
expedite the translation of the insight we have gained into alopecia areata (AA) pathogenesis 
from our GWAS and immunological studies into novel effective treatments. The TRAC Core will 
facilitate procurement of well-characterized, high quality human AA tissue samples, linked to 
multiple disease parameters including detailed clinical data, genetic data, immunologic and 
treatment response data. The TRAC core will provide guidance to foster seamless transition 
from study design and planning, procurement of biosamples and or data, through to the 
generation of experimental data, and then coordinate with the DATA Core for analyses. The 
TRAC core will facilitate investigator interface with the AA registry and the Columbia University 
Recruitment registry, and enable optimal collection and preservation of biosamples, as well as 
coordinate transport and processing of samples from distant sites. The core provides access to 
the National Alopecia Areata Registry Database, allowing access to almost 11,000 individuals 
who have given consent to be re-contacted for translational research in AA. We have also 
created our own Columbia University IRB approved database of patients in the NY metropolitan 
area with AA who wish to be contacted for participation in research. Additionally, the TRAC 
Core will provide data coordination and biostatistical expertise in the design of pre-clinical and 
clinical studies. The TRAC Core will provide patient ascertainment and procurement of AA 
tissue samples (skin/scalp, blood, feces, microbiome, immune cells) for the purpose of building 
an AA expression database from human and mouse models, which will be a critical resource 
that will be extensively utilized by each of the AACORT components. The TRAC Core resources 
will support the Research Project and Pilot and Feasibility studies, and interface closely with the 
DATA Core. In addition, the TRAC Core will promote communication and collaboration between 
preclinical and clinical researchers of AA, bridging the knowledge obtained from animal models 
to investigate the pathogenesis, immunopathology, and treatment of AA. By facilitating 
seamless access to biosamples from a well-defined patient population, and supporting 
researchers with services to enhance scientific rigor, the TRAC Core is positioned to facilitate 
the progress of translational investigation of AA pathophysiology and treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9784583
- **Project number:** 5P50AR070588-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Julian M. Mackay-Wiggan
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $310,979
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9784583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9784583, Core 1: Translational and Clinical Resource Core (5P50AR070588-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9784583. Licensed CC0.

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