R33TW011860
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Mind-the-Skin Project: Multi-functional Innovative Digital Toolkit for the Skin Diseases in LMICs and Beyond - Mind-the-Skin Project: Multi-functional Innovative Digital Toolkit for the Skin Diseases in LMICs and Beyond.
The prevalence of skin diseases is extremely high in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in children. If left untreated, some have debilitating lifelong physical disabilities and deformities, as well as social and mental effects.
Among them are skin infections which are listed as members of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by the World Health Organization and targeted for disease control globally. Many of the NTDs, including leprosy, Buruli ulcers, yaws, and lymphatic filariasis, are co-endemic in West Africa.
Early detection and treatment is currently the most effective measures for their disease control. However, this is hampered by a paucity of skilled healthcare workers in the remote areas of the LMICs where they prevail.
On the other hand, diagnosis of these conditions can be done with patient history and simple skin examination, without undergoing invasive examinations requiring special skills and equipment. This is very well suited to field settings in LMICs.
With targeted training, technology-assisted decision-support system, and a telemedicine network, local healthcare workers could be leveraged to enhance the diagnosis and management of the skin conditions.
This project proposes to do so through development and validation of an mHealth tool for skin diseases in LMICs: the 'eSkinHealth' application. It is a portable smartphone or tablet application that could provide:
A) Direct diagnostic and management assistance to healthcare workers in remote settings, and through teledermatology,
B) Storage of longitudinal patients' records for improved follow-up, and
C) Organization of clinical and image data of the skin.
There is a general lack of good clinical photos of skin diseases on dark skin, and collection of photos made through this project could be further used for development of photo guides for wide use and future studies on dermatology of skin of color.
The purpose of the proposed research is to complete development and optimization of eSkinHealth and carry out its effectiveness studies on the field. The R21 phase of the work will assess the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the prototype, validation of a novel built-in wound scoring system, and standardization and optimization of dermatologic photography on dark skin.
The R33 phase will evaluate the performance of the app on outcomes of surveillance and management of NTDs and further optimization of photo analysis of skin lesions on dark skin using the image optimization technology.
The research will be carried out in a Western-African country of Côte d'Ivoire. It will build on our previous work in surveillance of NTDs in rural Côte d'Ivoire and trainings to local healthcare workers, as well as our expertise in mHealth. It will leverage our multi-year collaboration with investigators from Côte d'Ivoire, application developers in Japan, and tropical medicine expertise from Tulane University.
If successful, eSkinHealth will be instrumental in overcoming the current gaps and weaknesses in dermatological services in LMICs, providing a breakthrough to management of skin diseases in this underserved population, as well as contributing to the dermatology of skin of color worldwide, envisioning skin health for all.
The prevalence of skin diseases is extremely high in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in children. If left untreated, some have debilitating lifelong physical disabilities and deformities, as well as social and mental effects.
Among them are skin infections which are listed as members of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by the World Health Organization and targeted for disease control globally. Many of the NTDs, including leprosy, Buruli ulcers, yaws, and lymphatic filariasis, are co-endemic in West Africa.
Early detection and treatment is currently the most effective measures for their disease control. However, this is hampered by a paucity of skilled healthcare workers in the remote areas of the LMICs where they prevail.
On the other hand, diagnosis of these conditions can be done with patient history and simple skin examination, without undergoing invasive examinations requiring special skills and equipment. This is very well suited to field settings in LMICs.
With targeted training, technology-assisted decision-support system, and a telemedicine network, local healthcare workers could be leveraged to enhance the diagnosis and management of the skin conditions.
This project proposes to do so through development and validation of an mHealth tool for skin diseases in LMICs: the 'eSkinHealth' application. It is a portable smartphone or tablet application that could provide:
A) Direct diagnostic and management assistance to healthcare workers in remote settings, and through teledermatology,
B) Storage of longitudinal patients' records for improved follow-up, and
C) Organization of clinical and image data of the skin.
There is a general lack of good clinical photos of skin diseases on dark skin, and collection of photos made through this project could be further used for development of photo guides for wide use and future studies on dermatology of skin of color.
The purpose of the proposed research is to complete development and optimization of eSkinHealth and carry out its effectiveness studies on the field. The R21 phase of the work will assess the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the prototype, validation of a novel built-in wound scoring system, and standardization and optimization of dermatologic photography on dark skin.
The R33 phase will evaluate the performance of the app on outcomes of surveillance and management of NTDs and further optimization of photo analysis of skin lesions on dark skin using the image optimization technology.
The research will be carried out in a Western-African country of Côte d'Ivoire. It will build on our previous work in surveillance of NTDs in rural Côte d'Ivoire and trainings to local healthcare workers, as well as our expertise in mHealth. It will leverage our multi-year collaboration with investigators from Côte d'Ivoire, application developers in Japan, and tropical medicine expertise from Tulane University.
If successful, eSkinHealth will be instrumental in overcoming the current gaps and weaknesses in dermatological services in LMICs, providing a breakthrough to management of skin diseases in this underserved population, as well as contributing to the dermatology of skin of color worldwide, envisioning skin health for all.
Funding Goals
THE JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER (FIC) SUPPORTS RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN U.S. SCIENTISTS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS ABROAD. FIC SUPPORTS BASIC BIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH, AS WELL AS RELATED RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THE RESEARCH PORTFOLIO IS DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNDING MECHANISMS TO MEET PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
New Orleans,
Louisiana
701185698
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 202% from $270,950 to $818,169.
The Administrators Of Tulane Educational Fund was awarded
eSkinHealth: Innovative Digital Toolkit Skin Diseases in LMICs Beyond
Project Grant R33TW011860
worth $818,169
from Fogarty International Center in August 2021 with work to be completed primarily in New Orleans Louisiana United States.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years 8 months and
was awarded through assistance program 93.989 International Research and Research Training.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Mobile Health: Technology and Outcomes in Low and Middle Income Countries (R21/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 6/5/25
Period of Performance
8/25/21
Start Date
4/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$818.2K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$818.2K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to R33TW011860
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
R33TW011860
SAI Number
R33TW011860-1359028668
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Private Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75NF00 NIH Fogarty International Center
Funding Office
75NF00 NIH Fogarty International Center
Awardee UEI
XNY5ULPU8EN6
Awardee CAGE
1BHK1
Performance District
LA-01
Senators
Bill Cassidy
John Kennedy
John Kennedy
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John E. Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0819) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $270,950 | 100% |
Modified: 6/5/25