The Demographics and Genetics of Psoriasis in Kenya

Principal Investigator: Wilson Liao, M.D.
Institution: The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco

Grant Mechanism: Discovery Grant
Funding Amount: $75,000
Project Start Date: August 1, 2024
Project End Date: July 31, 2025
Status: Active
Keywords: Psoriasis, Environmental Epidemiology, Genetics, Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes

Project Summary:

Psoriasis research should be inclusive of all races and peoples. However, almost all translational psoriasis research to date has been conducted on individuals with psoriasis living in North America, Europe, Australia, or Asia. There is an urgent need to understand the causative factors for psoriasis in Black and African populations. Here, we will establish the first Kenyan Psoriasis Registry to investigate the demographic, environmental, and genetic causes of psoriasis in Kenya. The knowledge gained from this registry will lay the foundation for research, education, and advocacy for psoriasis in Africa.

How will your project help improve the lives of the 125 million affected by psoriatic disease?

With scarce data on the clinical presentation of psoriasis in African populations, it is impossible to develop a research agenda, identify gaps in care, and improve the lives of those affected with psoriasis. The proposed registry will provide an important foundation for understanding the psoriasis subtypes seen in Kenya, the severity of disease, treatment patterns, the role of environmental factors, the mental health impact, and the genetics of psoriasis in African populations. This will lead to new avenues for treatment, education, and advocacy.

Why is psoriatic disease research important to you, personally? What role will this award play in your research efforts or career development?

This research is important to me as one step towards identifying the root cause of psoriasis and eventually a cure.

Researcher Profile:

Dr. Liao is Professor and Associate Vice Chair of Research in the UCSF Department of Dermatology. He serves as Director of the UCSF Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center and is deeply engaged in patient care, clinical trials, and translational research. The Liao laboratory (https://liaolab.ucsf.edu) studies the genetics, immunology, and environmental triggers of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, and uses machine learning and precision medicine approaches to advance dermatologic care. Dr. Liao directs the UCSF Psoriasis Research Initiative and Biobank with over 1,500 subjects, which has contributed to the discovery of over 30 psoriasis genes. He serves as Co-Principal Investigator of the NIH Accelerating Medicines Project Psoriatic Disease Team, which is leveraging single-cell and spatial profiling technologies to identify the cellular drivers of psoriasis. Dr. Liao is also engaged in digital health initiatives and has developed SkinTracker, a mobile app allowing for the conduct of remote dermatology trials. Current research projects in the Liao Lab include high-resolution genetic mapping and functional genomics of inflammatory skin disease, elucidation of disease pathways through single-cell transcriptional and immunoprofiling technologies, and use of digital health approaches to facilitate dermatology access.