The Psoriasis Association – PRUK Research Award

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a long-term immune mediated, where T-cells are triggered and become overactive. This results in the skin becoming itchy, scaly and forming raised plaques. Psoriasis can also affect the joints. While there is no cure for psoriasis, the condition is manageable, and pharmacists are often at the forefront of providing support for people with psoriasis. It is believed that around 2% of the UK population live with this condition.

We recognise the importance that pharmacy research has in investigating common long-term chronic conditions and this remains one of our key research priorities. Our partnership with the Psoriasis Association, which began in 2021, is an important step to ensuring that pharmacy research into the treatment and management of psoriasis can be commissioned and supported. This scheme is not only open to pharmacy professionals, but to health service researchers who have an interest in the role of pharmacy into psoriasis.

Who can apply?

The Psoriasis Association-PRUK Research Award is aimed at researchers who wish to conduct novel research into a range of areas, such as how pharmacy services can support the treatment of psoriasis or how pharmacists can be better equipped to provide further support to people with psoriasis. As long as the proposed area of research fits into PRUK and Psoriasis Association’s research strategy, it will be considered eligible for this scheme.

The Psoriasis Association detail specific priorities within the field of psoriasis research, so we encourage anyone who is interested in applying to review the top research priorities. Applications investigating issues outside of the priorities outlined below will still be considered. A summary is included below, but further details are available on this page.

1. Do lifestyle factors such as diet, dietary supplements, alcohol, smoking, weight loss and exercise play a part in treating psoriasis?
2. Does treating psoriasis early (or proactively) reduce the severity of the disease, make it more likely to go into remission, or stop other health conditions developing?
3. What factors predict how well psoriasis will respond to a treatment?
4. What is the best way to treat the symptoms of psoriasis: itching, burning, redness, scaling and flaking?
5. How well do psychological and educational interventions work for adults and children with psoriasis?
6. Does treating psoriasis help improve other health conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and stress?
7. Why do psoriasis treatments stop working well against psoriasis and when they stop working well, what’s the best way to regain control of the disease?
8. To what extent is psoriasis caused by a person’s genes or other factors, such as stress, gut health, water quality, or change in the weather / temperature?
9. Is a person with psoriasis more likely to develop other health conditions (either as a consequence of psoriasis or due to the effect of treatments for psoriasis)? If so, which ones?
10. What’s the best way to treat sudden flare ups of psoriasis?

How to apply?

We welcome applications to this scheme from pharmacy professionals and health service researchers, specifically calling for pharmacy-related research into the condition of psoriasis. Further details about this scheme are available on our website.

Apply by 1pm on Wednesday 20^th April! For any questions about this scheme, please contact Desh Mofidi at desh.mofidi@pharmresuk.org.uk.