Professor Carsten Flohr from King’s College London has received a research grant from the National Eczema Society. The grant, part of the Society’s first-ever funding round, supports early-stage research into eczema. These awards aim to improve understanding, care, and outcomes for people living with the condition.
Professor Flohr’s project, titled The Lived Experiences of Women with Atopic Dermatitis – Natural Language Processing (LEAD NLP), has been awarded £30,000 for a one-year study. The project will explore how women with eczema experience the condition, especially during pregnancy and in relation to reproductive health.
To carry out the research, the team will use Natural Language Processing (NLP), a type of artificial intelligence that helps computers understand and analyse human language. The study will include focus groups and interviews with women of childbearing age (18 to 55) who have eczema, as well as with healthcare professionals who treat them.
“We are delighted to have received funding from the National Eczema Society,” said Professor Flohr, Chair in Dermatology and Population Health Science at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London. “This support allows us to study how women experience eczema before, during, and after pregnancy, using an innovative method—natural language processing.”
Two qualitative researchers will first analyse the interview and focus group transcripts. Their findings will then be compared with insights generated by the NLP model. The goal is to better understand patient and healthcare provider experiences and to improve clinical care and support for women with eczema.
Professor Flohr’s project is one of two to receive pump-priming awards in this inaugural funding round. The National Eczema Society also awarded two PhD studentships as part of the initiative.
Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes red, itchy, and sore skin. Atopic dermatitis is the most widespread form, affecting about one in five children and one in ten adults in the UK. Women often face unique challenges related to eczema, especially during pregnancy, yet their experiences are under-researched.
Professor Flohr and his team will collaborate with Dr Helen Yannakoudakis from the Natural Language Processing Unit at King’s College London, along with colleagues from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and universities in Magdeburg and Aarhus.
The LEAD NLP project is scheduled to begin in August 2025.
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