2019 annual report Dermatology SIG

The aim of our group is to promote research into the diagnosis and management of the skin problems commonly seen in primary care, through networking, collaboration, and on-line discussion.

As of August 2018, the running of the group has been handed over from Dr Matthew Ridd to Dr Emma Le Roux. As in previous years, the focus of the group’s activity has been its annual meeting in London, on 8th February 2019.  It was hosted by the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology (University of Nottingham) at the British Association of Dermatologists.  It was attended by Emma Le Roux (chair), Matthew Ridd, Miriam Santer, Ingrid Muller, Duncan Platt, Kim Thomas, Jo Chalmers, Steve Ersser, Carsten Flohr, Nicola Broad, Fiona Cowdell, Matthew Willis, Amanda Roberts, Anna Lalonde, Tracey Sach, Ketaki Bhate, Tim Preece, Laura Howells, Alisha Bhanot, Rosie Wellesley and Paul Leighton. Attendees represented a range of clinical and methodological backgrounds, from a range of institutions and from generalist and specialist care.  There were 13 presentations, with discussion, covering: a range of common primary care skin conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis, incontinence associated dermatitis, vitiligo and lichen sclerosus), at a variety of stages (proposals, updates on current trials, submissions made for funding, and recently completed).

The group currently has 65 members on the email list, of which ~15 are active in primary care dermatology research.  It is affiliated to the Clinical Research Network Dermatology Specialty Group.  As well as being notified of the annual meeting and any other topics of interest, group members also receive a monthly email digest of primary-care relevant research publications.  This is provided by Douglas Grindlay and colleagues at the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology.

New members are always welcome, especially researchers outside of the UK.  The group benefits from a strong relationship with the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology and is always looking for ways to support the development of research relevant to primary care through partner organisations.

We will next meet on 24th January 2020, in London.