Tear Chemokines as Novel Biomarkers of Eyelid Dermatitis
Grantee: Elena Borzova, Associate Professor, Niigata University
Amount: DKK 1,659,000
Grant category: LEO Foundation Visiting Researchers
Year: 2026
Geography: Japan
Eyelid dermatitis (ED) is a common and distressing skin condition that is difficult to diagnose due to similarity of its subtypes — allergic, irritant, and atopic ED. These may require different treatments. Misdiagnosis may lead to delayed and ineffective care. Reliable objective tests to tell them apart are lacking.
Tear fluid, collected in seconds using a small strip, is in direct contact with the inflamed eyelids and carries molecular signals reflecting the underlying disease. During my visit to Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, I will profile immune proteins called chemokines in the tear fluid of patients with different ED subtypes, using cutting-edge protein analysis technology. I will also develop a biosensor capable of identifying the ED subtype from a single tear sample at the clinic.
The expected results are the first molecular diagnostic tool for eyelid dermatitis subtyping, objective markers for monitoring treatment response, and a biosensor prototype for clinical use.
JSID Young Investigator Events
Grantee: Yumi Aoyama, Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID)
Amount: DKK 186,848
Grant category: Research Networking
Year: 2026
Geography: Japan
To strengthen the interactions between young scientists a collegiality night and a symposium are arranged in conjunction with the 51st annual meeting of the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology (JSID).
The mission of JSID is to advance the position of dermatology in the interdisciplinary world and to enhance the quality of science and research presentations in dermatology for the purposes of maintaining healthy skin and further advancing the treatment of skin diseases.