The diagnosis and management of skin (dermatological) and allergy problems commonly seen in primary care is an established research theme at the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) and is the focus of the newly opened Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research (CAESAR).

Led by Professor Matthew Ridd, CAESAR is supported by a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Professorship award to build capacity and accelerate progress in answering questions of importance to patients with skin and/or allergy problems.

Working with key partners in secondary care (Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham; UK Dermatology Controlled Trials Network) and primary care (Primary Care and Population Sciences, University of Southampton), our work spans from large, flagship clinical trials through to methods work and small student projects.

Team members

• Professor Matthew Ridd (Lead)
• Dr Andrew Turner 
• Dr Phuong Hua
• Dr Roxanne Parslow
• Dr Raquel Granell
• Ms Catriona Rutter
• Dr Rosie Vincent
• Anna Gilbertson
• Ms Amy Herbert
• Ms Emily Baldwin
• Dr Katherine Memory 
• Ms Mary Feeney
• Dr Eliza Hutchison
• Dr Rosie Vincent
• Dr Alyson Huntley 

Current projects

• Transforming Outcomes for Paediatric allergy In primary Care (TOPIC). Ridd M J. NIHR Research Professorship (2023-2028)

• Trial of IGe tests for Eczema Relief (TIGER). Ridd MJ, Santer M, Blakeman T, MacNeill S, Coast J, Garfield K, Muller I, Boyle R, Meyer R, Skypala I, Dawson S, Morgans H, Brown S, Williams H. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (2022-2025)

   

• AmiTriptyline for the prevention of post-HErpetic NeuralgiA (ATHENA): multi-centre, individually randomised, pragmatic, placebo-controlled superiority trial with internal pilot study within a trial and nestted qualitative study. Ridd MJ, Pickering A, Johnson R, Fodor I, Wylde V, Kandiyali R, Heawood A, Hay AD, van Hecke O, Everitt H, Hunt L, Clayton J, MacNeill S. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (2021-2025)

• RAPID and Efficient Eczema Trials (RAPID). Thomas K, Roberts A, Ridd MJ, Santer M, Muller I, Cowdell F, Bradshaw L, Tanaka R, Collins S, Haines R, Montgomery A, Mitchell E, Ravenscroft J, Williams HC. Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (September 2022-February 2027)

• Developing and testing an online intervention to support self-management, improve outcomes and reduce antibiotic use in acne. Santer M, Muller I, Stuart B, Thomas K, Layton A, Francis N, Ridd M, Sach T, Lanagan S, Soulsby I, Thompson A, Griffiths G, Dove S, Patel M, Yardley L, Little P. Funder: NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research (March 2022-February 2027)

• Hamilton F, Williams O, Shipley D, Creanor S, Taylor H, Hawton A, Lasserson D, Wainman H, Ridd M, Chaudhuri E,  Arnold D, Cook H, White C, Rowe D, Carlton E. DEXACELL: Dexamethasone as an adjunctive therapy for the management of cellulitis - a randomised controlled trial in urgent secondary care. NIHR HTA, January 2024-December 2026.

• Gran S, Vinogradova Y, Ridd M J, Yiu Z, Harman K. The association between the COVID-19 vaccine and skin conditions. NIHR SPCR, July 2023-June 2025.

Completed projects

• Food allergy and atopic eczema: optimising care for individual patients – Trial of IgE tests for Eczema Relief: Consensus on Using skin prick tests Best (TIGER CUB). Brown S, Ridd MJ, Boyle R, Meyer R, Skypala I. Funder: Rosetrees Trust and Stoneygate Trust, (2022-2023)

• A systematic review to map and identify written action plans: where and how have written action plans for atopic eczema/dermatitis been developed and evaluated? Singh Tahndi C, Ridd M, Vincent R. This work is being done as part of a Dr Singh Thandi's Academic Clinical Fellowship.

• Eczema Care Online (ECO): Supporting self-care for eczema in the community. Santer M, Thomas K T, Muller I, Ridd M, Chalmers J, Lawton S, Stuart B, Griffiths G, Sach T, Langan, Roberts A, Ahmed A, Kirk H, Yardley L, Little P, Williams H. NIHR Programme Grant (September 2017-February 2023)

• Do temperature changes cause eczema flares? Chan J, MacNeill S J, Stuart B, Lo Y T E, Roberts A, Mitchell D, Ridd M J. Academic Foundation project.

• Where and how have written action plans for atopic eczema/dermatitis been developed and evaluated? Systematic review. Singh Thandi C, Constantinou S, Vincent R, Ridd M J. This work wais undertaken as part of a Dr Singh Thandi's Academic Clinical Fellowship.

• Should a proxy “worst itch” question be included as a core outcome in trials of treatments for childhood eczema? Guan X, MacNeill S, Ridd M J. MSc project.

• Should pain be included in the Patient Orientated Eczema Measure? Huang A, MacNeill, Ridd M J. MSc project.

• How and what adverse events are reported and captured in Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) of emollients in the treatment of eczema? Emmett E R, Allen M, Crownshaw S, Ridd M J.

• Best Emollient in Eczema (BEE): Pragmatic, primary care, multi-centre, individually randomised superiority trial of four emollients in children with eczema, with internal pilot and nested qualitative study. Ridd M, Santer M, Thomas K, MacNeill S, Heawood A, Banks J, Roberts A, Garfield K, Baxter H, Barrett T, Lane A, Williams H, Hay A. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (May 2017-December 2020)

• TEST (Trial of Eczema allergy Screening Tests): feasibility randomised controlled trial with economic scoping and nested qualitative study. Ridd M, Santer M, Boyle R, Chalmers J, Blair P, Heawood A, Selman L, Coast J, Garfield K, Marriage D, Waddell L, Muller I, Kai J. Funder: NIHR School for Primary Care Research (October 2017-November 2019)

• Action PlAns for CHildren with Eczema (APACHE): A study to develop written action plans for children with eczema and explore how best to evaluate them. Ridd M, Salisbury C, Purdy S, Metcalfe C, Heawood A, Malpass A and Waldecker A. (January 2015-December 2019)

• Choice of Moisturiser in Eczema Treatment (COMET) - feasibility trial. Ridd M, Hollinghurst S, Redmond N, Ball N, Shaw L, Metcalfe C, Lane A, Guy R, Purdy S. Funder: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (July 2013-December 2015)

• Predictors of Onset, Persistence and Psychological Impact of childhood Eczema (POPPIE). Ridd M, Morris R, Santer M, Sullivan S, Dunnill G, Magin P, Purdy S. Funder: NIHR School for Primary Care Research (July 2012-April 2013)

• Spironolactone for Adult Female Acne (SAFA): pragmatic multicentre double-blind randmoised superiority trial to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of spironolactone for moderate or severe persistent acne in women. Santer M, Ridd M J et al. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assesment. (April 2018-September 2021)

• Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention (BEEP) study. Williams H, Boyle R, Ridd M, Thornton J, Lawton S, Cork M, Simpson E, Brown S, Sach T, Montgomery A, Chalmers J, Thomas K. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (October 2013-September 2021)

• Bath additives for Treatment of CHildhood Eczema (BATHE). Santer M, Williams H, Thomas K, Ridd M, Francis N, Chorozoglo M, Roberts A, Wood W, Stanton L, Stuart B, Little P. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (March 2014-August 2017)

• The CREAM study (ChildRen with Eczema Antibiotic Management). Francis N, Sullivan F, Butler C, Hood K, Howe R, Cohen D, Kalavala M,  Davey P, Ridd M. Funder: NIHR Health Technology Assessment. (June 2012-May 2015)

• Surgical interventions to treat severe pressure sores (SIPS). Reeves B, Dumville J, Atkinson R, O'Connor L, Pufulete M, Cullum N, Wong J, Griffiths J, Adderley U, Harris J, Ridd M, Johnson J. Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (September 2019-August 2022)

• Test-guided dietary exclusions for treating established atopic dermatitis in children: A systematic review. Roberts K, Gilbertson A, Dawson S, Turner N, Ridd MJ.

• Dietary management of patients with eczema. Gilbertson A, Meyer R, Skypala I, Ridd MJ

• Eczema and allergy engagement. Gilbertson A, Ridd M, Dawson S, Clayton J, Roberts A. Funder: NIHR School for Primary Care Research (April 2020 to March 2021).

• How common are possible cow’s milk allergy symptoms in infants? Vincent R, MacNeill S, Perkin M, Ridd MJ. ISAD fellowship (September-November 2020)

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• Health care professionals’ beliefs and practices regarding food allergy testing for children with eczema. Gilbertson A, Boyle RJ, MacNeill S, Ridd MJ. (May-August 2020)

• Validating a patient reported outcome measure of eczema control (ICE Study). Bhanot A, Peters T J, Ridd M J. (October 2018-July 2019)

• Patient and carers experience of allergy testing in eczema. Chan J, Ridd M. (June-July 2019)

• Emollient prescribing formularies in England and Wales. Chan J, Boyd G, Quinn P, Ridd M. (October 2016-June 2017)

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