ESC awards research grant to University of Toronto researchers
Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) is delighted to announce the winner of the 2025 Competitive Research Grant Program, awarding funding to research and educational programs that will work to advance eczema care here in Canada.
Project Title: Equitable Assessment of Atopic Dermatitis: Thermal Imaging for Skin of Colour
Winner – principal investigator: Sheila Wang, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Clinician Investigator, University of Toronto, Women’s College Hospital
Co-investigators: Rachel Tyli, BASc, PhD candidate, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Dept of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto and Tahirih Nasseri, BSc, MD candidate, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Toronto-based researcher Sheila Wang, MD, PhD, FRCPC, is an Assistant Professor in Dermatology at the University of Toronto, and Clinician Investigator and staff dermatologist at Women’s College Hospital. Together with her co-investigators, Rachel Tyli and Tahirih Nasseri, she is endeavouring to better understand thermal imaging for skin of colour dermatology diagnoses, including atopic dermatitis. This project will work toward improved diagnosis and ultimately care for patients with skin of colour.
ESC congratulates the 2025 winners!
Dr. Wang shared, “As a Clinician Investigator in digital innovation, I am truly grateful to Eczema Society of Canada for this support. Leveraging technology to advance equitable dermatology care drives our work, especially for patients whose atopic dermatitis is often under-recognized due to darker skin tone. This grant enables us to create real impact for those most in need.”
ESC Executive Director shared how research is an important part of the ESC mission, “ESC is proud to support this important research right here in Canada, which can help to improve equity in care for atopic dermatitis. We congratulate Dr. Wang, Ms. Tyli, and Ms. Nasseri on their grant award and thank them for their important work to advance care in this area.”
The 2026 Research Grant Program is now open, and applications will be accepted until September 1st, 2026.
