title: Comparing cutaneous research funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the US skin disease burden.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disease burden should be an important component for guiding research funding.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the relationship between dermatologic research funded from 2012 to 2013 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and US skin disease burden as measured by disability-adjusted life years in the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis was independently performed by 2 researchers who matched projects from the 2012 to 2013 NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools with 15 skin conditions and their respective disability-adjusted life years from Global Burden of Disease 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NIH funded 1108 projects spanning the 15 skin conditions. Melanoma received almost half of the total skin condition budget (49.5%). Melanoma, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and leprosy were funded above what would be suggested by their disease burden, whereas dermatitis, acne vulgaris, pruritus, urticaria, decubitus ulcer, fungal skin diseases, alopecia areata, cellulitis, and scabies appeared underfunded. Bacterial skin diseases, viral skin diseases, and psoriasis were well matched with disease burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disease burden is one of many factors that may be used to guide priority-setting decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin disease burden measured by disability-adjusted life year metrics partially correlates with NIH funding prioritization. Comparing US disease burden with NIH funding suggests possible underfunded and overfunded skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois.
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hagstrom
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Shivani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Chante
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karimkhani
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Lindsay N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Boyers
authors.affiliation: Center of Evidence-based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hywel C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kings College Hospital National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roderick J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Dermatoepidemiology Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center Providence, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Dermatology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; Departments of Dermatology and Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weinstock
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Dermatology Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: April W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Cory A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dunnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; Dermatology Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado; Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado. Electronic address: robert.dellavalle@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000191:economics*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States
keywords: National Institutes of Health; dermatitis; disability-adjusted life years; disease burden; leprosy; melanoma; priority setting; skin conditions