Bridging the Gap: SkIN Canada’s mission to transform dermatological research

Skin conditions are a leading cause of overall disability and death in Canada. Canadian researchers have made substantial contributions to address the heavy burden of skin disease, but much of the work is conducted in relative isolation by a dispersed community of scientists and clinicians. 

That’s why the Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) is working to bring together experts in skin research, foster new collaborations and improve skin health through innovation. 

Dr. An-Wen Chan, Dermatologist and Phelan Senior Scientist at Women’s College Hospital and Professor in the Department of Medicine, founded the network in 2019, and it was officially launched in July 2020 with the help of funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This year, SkIN Canada received another $2 million in funding over five years from CIHR and continues to be the only national skin research network in the country. 

The network aims to bring together patients and an interdisciplinary team of top researchers and clinicians from across the country to tackle the causes, clinical aspects, health systems and population health questions for a broad range of skin conditions.

“Back when we started this, the skin research community was relatively dispersed and there were silos of expertise, not only in academic centers but also in the community, where Canadian dermatologists play a huge role in conducting clinical trials and other types of research,” says Dr. Chan. “We really wanted to bring people together and establish a forum where we could leverage that expertise in terms of personnel, infrastructure and community relationships.” 

Over the past three years, SkIN Canada has not only met but exceeded its initial goals, including catalyzing the creation of 15 new interdisciplinary research teams across the country. Another such goal was a landmark priority setting initiative that was completed in 2022, where patient voices played a pivotal role in identifying key knowledge gaps and research priorities.

The initiative involved surveying around 500 patients and clinicians, as well as consensus-building workshops to create a patient-informed research agenda. The research priorities that have been identified range from basic science mechanisms to how best to treat rare skin conditions, and how patients want to be educated about sun protection. This particular initiative was recognized with a 2023 CIHR Research Excellence Prize for Patient Engagement by the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis. 

“This approach turned the typical process on its head since it’s usually funders, industry sponsors or researchers who are working in areas they're interested in and setting the research agenda, and that doesn’t always align with what patients feel is important,” says Dr. Chan. “We hope that other stakeholders and funders may look to this agenda to see what types of research they should be supporting.” 

The network's commitment to patient-centered approaches also extends to its governance structure, with patient advocates serving on all committees, project teams and award review panels. In training activities, workshops on patient engagement aim to equip researchers and trainees to effectively involve patients in their work.

With this new funding from CIHR, SkIN Canada hopes to tackle two priority areas of research – rare skin diseases and ethnodermatology. The focus on rare diseases aims to address the challenges faced by patients with conditions that are often overlooked due to their rarity. Additionally, the network is dedicated to addressing skin diseases affecting individuals with richly pigmented skin, acknowledging the socio-demographic and cultural factors at play.

“One of our key operating principles is that we’re trying to bridge the gap between community-based and academic-based practitioners and researchers,” says Dr. Chan. “Recognizing that most dermatological diseases are managed in the community, we want to ensure that we can partner with interested clinical researchers who have an enormous amount to contribute in their community practices.” 

SkIN Canada’s work is not only positively impacting the field of dermatology but also serves as a model for interdisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered research in other medical disciplines.