This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Organization supports clinical research in developing diagnostic tool for cellulitis

DENVER — Advancing Innovation in Dermatology, a not-for-profit organization, announced before the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting that it was making a donation to the Magic Wand Initiative, which seeks to support research teams led by clinical dermatologists.

“Our goal is to build an ecosystem among a broad range of stakeholders that have a shared interest in bringing to market an increased number of important innovative and scientifically based therapists,” William Ju, MD, dermatologist and president of the Advancing Innovation in Dermatology (AID), told Healio.com.

 

William Ju

AID will donate $50,000 to the initiative led by R. Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. The funds will support the project on “Identifying and validating reliable testing modalities to establish an objective ‘gold standard’ diagnostic tool for cellulitis.” Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH, assistant professor in dermatology, Harvard Medical School, and director of pediatric dermatology and director of inpatient dermatology, education and research, at Massachusetts General Hospital and MassGeneral Hospital for Children, is leading that campaign, according to a press release.

 

R. Rox Anderson

“What we feel is our mission in action is Dr. Rox Anderson’s Magic Wand Project,” Ju said. “What Rox will do is very carefully study a clinical problem worth solving then match knowhow to it led by a young clinician to come up with projects.”

“The Magic Wand project empowers clinical dermatologists to launch, and then lead research with practical impact,” Anderson said in the release. “The misdiagnosis of cellulitis is one example of a major clinical and financial challenge that needs a little magic, in the form of Dr. Daniela Kroshinsky.”

AID was established in 2011 to address increased commitment to new scientifically based solutions to dermatology, according to the release. Its stakeholders support development of new products for skin conditions.

Disclosure: The following companies have given financial donations and possibly services to AID: Actelion, Aclaris, Allergan, Amore-Pacific Ventures, Anacor, Aqua Pharmaceuticals, Brickell Biotech, Canfield Scientific, Cerabilis SA, Dermira, Galderma, Kythera, Leerink Partners, Leo Pharma, Merz, Neodyne Biosciences, Novan Therapeutics, Palo Alto Investors, Pharus Advisors, Promisu Pharma, Sebacia, Stiefel, Suneva Medical and Therapeutics.