Recipient of the 2022 Eczema Association of Australasia Inc Funding Grant

We are pleased to announce that Dr Emma Veysey has been awarded the 2022 Eczema Association of Australasia (EAA) Inc. Grant for her project titled, Lifestyle and habit predictors of adherence to topical therapy for adults with atopic dermatitis. Congratulations to Dr Veysey and her team.

Project significance. This is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate whether certain lifestyle factors or habits predict adherence to topical therapies for atopic dermatitis. Patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis who are suitable for topical treatment only will be recruited.

At their initial appointment, patients will be asked about their sleep, work and exercise routines, and the impact atopic dermatitis has on their quality of life. The severity of their atopic dermatitis will also be assessed.

Standard care with topical therapies will be initiated and at their follow-up appointment, adherence and clinical improvement will be assessed, using validated questionnaires.

This project aims to improve understandings on who may be better suited for topical therapies alone and who should be accelerated to alternative treatment or require additional support to maintain their topical therapy regime. Our research team includes Ms Diana Zannino, Biostatistician (Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health Research at the University of Melbourne) and Dr Salam Kashmoola.

Emma completed her training as a dermatologist in the United Kingdom in 2008 and moved to Australia in 2011. She became a Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists (FACD) in 2013 and is Dermatology VMO at St Vincent’s and the Royal Women’s Hospitals.

Emma has a Masters in Public Health and experience in clinical research across different areas of medical dermatology. She has supervised both dermatology fellows and MD student research projects.