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The first EB clinical research centre in Africa
Establishing an EB centre in Tanzania will broaden the reach of further research while improving quality of life for more people living with EB.
Dr Daudi Mavura works at the Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC) in Moshi, Tanzania, on this project to describe the symptoms and genetics of 20 people with dystrophic EB. This will help to establish the first EB clinical research centre in Africa. It will broaden our knowledge of EB across the world and improve quality of life and access to clinical trials for more people living with EB.
About our funding
Research Leader |
Dr Daudi Mavura |
Institution |
Regional Dermatology Training Centre, Moshi, Tanzania |
Types of EB |
DEB |
Patient involvement |
20 people |
Funding amount | £15,000 |
Project length |
18 months |
Start date |
TBC 2025 |
DEBRA internal ID |
GR000082 |
Project details
Due 2025.
Lead researcher: Dr Daudi Mavura is an Associate Professor in Dermatovenereology at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMC) and also the current principal of the Regional Dermatology Training Center (RDTC) at KCMC in Moshi, a tertiary training institute of both the Tumaini University and Muhimbili University of Health sciences. He is also one of the special advisors in the International Foundation of Dermatology Committee (IFD). Prof Mavura, is also a faculty member of the Dermatologic and Aesthetic Surgery International League (DASIL).
Co-researcher: Dr M Peter Marinkovich completed dermatology residency at Oregon Health Sciences University, and his research fellowship with Dr Robert Burgeson on discovery/characterization of type VII collagen, the target of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and laminin-332 the target in most cases of junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Dr Marinkovich currently directs the Bullous Diseases Clinic at Stanford, and oversees a laboratory that studies basement membrane biology and molecular therapy of epidermolysis bullosa. His group has taken the three leading dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa gene therapy programs from preclinical to phase 3 clinical trials including an autologous gene therapy skin graft technology, an autologous fibroblast gene therapy, and a topical gene therapy which became first FDA approved gene therapy for epidermolysis bullosa in May 2023.
“Clinical expertise in correctly identifying, diagnosing, and providing care for epidermolysis bullosa patients in Africa is sorely needed… This is expected to improve the lives of African epidermolysis bullosa patients by improving their clinical care and by providing access to clinical trials of emerging molecular corrective therapies some of which are currently in development at Stanford University.”
– Dr Daudi Mavura
Grant title: Establishing an Epidermolysis Bullosa Centre in Africa
Through a collaboration between Stanford University and the Regional Dermatology Training Center (RDTC) in Moshi Tanzania, this proposal seeks to characterize a cohort of patients with the genetic blistering disease dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Towards this end, the RDTC and the Stanford Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinical Research Center will coordinate together on dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa clinical and genetic characterization in Tanzania. During the proposed funding period, a cohort of 20 patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa will be clinically and genetically characterized, at the RDTC. Ultimately, this proposal seeks to help establish a foundation upon which to build the first epidermolysis bullosa clinical research center in Africa. This is expected to improve the lives of African epidermolysis bullosa patients by improving their clinical care and by providing access to clinical trials of emerging molecular corrective therapies some of which are currently in development at Stanford University.
Due 2025.