Severe acne will be focus of Research Campus study

KANNAPOLIS — Duke University’s medical research study at the N.C. Research Campus has launched an effort to understand genetic factors that cause severe acne.

The MURDOCK Study at the Duke Translational Medicine Institute in Kannapolis is enrolling patients as young as 12 who have been diagnosed with severe acne vulgaris and have been treated with oral isotretinoin, such as Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis or Sotret.

Directed by Dr. Thomas Urban of the Duke Center for Human Genome Variation and Dr. Diana McShane of the Duke Department of Dermatology and in partnership with several local dermatologists, the project will identify genetic factors predisposing patients to severe acne and explore if genetics can predict how they will respond to treatment.

“If we can identify genetic factors that influence response to treatment, we’ll not only be able to improve how we use current medications, but may also discover new and safer ways of treating severe acne,” Urban said in a press release.

The study is recruiting 250 past or present severe acne patients who will receive a $25 gift card to donate about an hour of their time, as well as small samples of blood and urine.

Severe acne affects up to 50 million people in the United States and afflicts as many as 85 percent of teenagers. Study participants will help efforts to better understand and treat this disease.

The Dermatology Group of the Carolinas in Concord has partnered with the MURDOCK Study to become an enrollment site.

“This research could lead to a better understanding of the genetics of acne and response to treatment,” said Dr. Sarah Cash, a member of the practice.

While people must live in Cabarrus County or Kannapolis to join the MURDOCK Study’s community registry, there are no geographic requirements for eligibility in the acne study.

For questions about the study or to schedule a one-time enrollment appointment to join, contact the MURDOCK Study office at 704-250-5861 or email murdock-study@duke.edu .

The MURDOCK Study is named for Research Campus founder David Murdock and stands for Measurement to Understand the Reclassification of Disease Of Cabarrus/ Kannapolis.