Roll-out of CHDR ‘deep phenotyping’ approach in consortium study

‘In recent years, we have invested a great deal of energy in the nationwide Dutch NGID consortium,’ says Prof. Robert Rissmann, Research Director Dermatology. ‘We hope that in the coming years we will reap its benefits for dermatological patients, for dermatology and for our own group at CHDR.’ The NGID network, in which all seven academic centres in the Netherlands participate, started the SKINERGY study in 2025. It focuses on the concept of deep phenotyping of 720 patients over time, during a one-year follow-up. Cameras and various advanced ‘multi-omics’ measurements are used to objectively record the condition of the skin at predetermined moments, while additional attention is given to individual variability and factors such as the skin microbiome. The experiences of patients, their treatment, and the effects thereof are also closely monitored. Rissmann expects this study to yield ‘a treasure trove of real-world data’ on the six conditions that are the focus of NGID: eczema, psoriasis, cutaneous lupus, hidradenitis suppurativa, urticaria and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. ‘The basis of this study was laid at CHDR, where we started in 2018 with the deep-phenotyping concept, back then with psoriasis.’

Meanwhile, the Dermatology Group is analysing the results of a small-scale study along the lines of SKINERGY that was set up and conducted in 2025. It all began with a client who plans to conduct a first-in-human study at CHDR in 2026 for an immunomodulatory compound. Due to its mode of action, the multiple ascending dose (MAD) studies will have to be conducted in patients. Rissmann: ‘To determine in which dermatological condition the drug can best be studied, we have proposed conducting a preparatory phase 0 study that closely resembles SKINERGY: a deep phenotyping of the six immunodermatological conditions, in which we pay special attention to the target of that drug. With the results of this study, we can advise the sponsor on which patients should be included in the MAD studies.’

Unlike the national study, which took years of preparation, CHDR was able to set up and conduct this ‘phase 0’ study in less than a year. The idea came up in January 2025, the protocol was ready in March, the medical ethics review committee gave the green light in May, and by early June, more than 20 patients had already been included. Thanks in part to the NGID network, it was possible to recruit enough patients with moderate to severe symptoms. Rissmann: ‘For me, it was fascinating to see the difference. If you want to be quick, you have to keep it small. Setting up a study within a national consortium takes much more time, but I expect that it will yield different data such as long-term follow-up, deeper characterisation and a nationwide network for collaboration.’