Research question
Common dermatological conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, and acne, are prevalent health issues worldwide, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden. Although extensive research has been conducted to explore the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases, their complex multifactorial causes remain incompletely understood. In particular, the interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors-such as lifestyle, diet, smoking, and air pollution-has not been systematically investigated. Moreover, existing studies often rely on single-omics data (e.g., genomics or metabolomics), lacking integrated multi-omics analyses, which limits a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms.
Objective
Leveraging the comprehensive dataset from the UK Biobank, we will utilize genetic, metabolomic, proteomic, and integrated epidemiological data to explore the complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors-such as lifestyle choices including smoking, diet etc -in common dermatological conditions. This approach will enable us to uncover novel risk factors and identify potential biomarkers.
Scientific rationale
Profiling circulating proteins offers a unique opportunity to discover novel biomarkers and enhance our understanding of the etiology of these diseases. Similarly, the blood metabolome is regarded as a crucial readout of aggregated information spanning genetic factors, gene expression, protein abundance, and external environmental influences. To achieve this objective, we will integrate multi-omics data-specifically proteomics and metabolomics-with epidemiological data to identify new risk factors and biomarkers, as well as provide definitive evidence for the known associations between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors in common dermatological conditions, as reported in traditional observational studies.
