Activities of the Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin within the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan.

Abstract

The Hashimoto Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin is a contributor to the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan. Our research group performs clinical research on 23 rare intractable genetic skin diseases that are classified into eight disease groups. Among the 23 diseases, 17 are mainly studied by our research group, and 6 diseases are studied in collaboration with other research groups. Cockayne syndrome and familial chronic and benign pemphigus (also known as Hailey-Hailey disease) are the designated intractable diseases that are mainly studied by our research group. This review summarizes the activities of our research group for these 23 intractable hereditary skin diseases, including the MHLW tasks for designated intractable diseases, epidemiological studies using nationwide surveys, preparation of patient registries, creation of repositories, development and publication of clinical practice guidelines, clinical trials for novel treatments in collaboration with the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development, help with genetic diagnosis, applications for the listing of new designated intractable diseases, communication of information to academic societies, medical professionals and patients, spreading awareness of our activities to the public, supporting patient societies, and presentation and publication of achievements. These studies are performed in collaboration with the relevant academic societies, mainly the Japanese Dermatological Association.