American Dermatoepidemiology Network
The American Dermatoepidemiology Network was founded in 2006 to promote high quality research into the epidemiology of skin diseases. Dermato-epidemiology is a broad field which covers the incidence, causes and prevention of disease as well as effects on quality of life and health services utilisation. The network fosters collaborations and sharing of best practice between clinicians, researchers, patients, data management organisations, and companies who develop or manufacture treatments. http://www.adenet.us/about.html
Cochrane Skin Group – Core Outcome Set Initiative (CSG- COUSIN) COUSIN is a multidisciplinary international working group within the Cochrane Skin Group. CSG-COUSIN was founded in 2015 by Professors Jochen Schmitt and Hywel Williams and is co-ordinated by the Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare, University of Dresden, Germany. COUSIN was set up to help and support groups developing core outcome sets for skin conditions. COUSIN has a team of 30 clinicians, patients and researchers working on multiple projects to deliver COS for conditions ranging from melanoma to urticarial.
https://www.uniklinikum-dresden.de/de/das-klinikum/universitaetscentren/zegv/cousin/
Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) Initiative COMET was set up in 2010 to bring together people interested in the development and application of agreed standardised sets of outcomes known as core outcome sets (COS). COMET aims to collate and stimulate relevant resources, both applied and methodological, to facilitate exchange of ideas and information, and to foster methodological research in this area. A number of useful resources for COS developers are available via their website. http://www.comet-initiative.org/
Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME)
The HOME Initiative was founded in 2008 to develop a set of core outcome measures for inclusion in all eczema trials. HOME has made rapid progress in the identification of essential domains and has already reached agreement about two of the measures (POEM and EASI) to be included in the core outcome measure set.
HOME has pioneered the development of core outcome measures in dermatology. Their roadmap provides an excellent methodological framework for those starting to work on core outcomes for other dermatoses (see Schmitt J et al. J Invest Dermatol 2015: 135; 24–30). http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/homeforeczema/index.aspx
International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM)The aims of IDEOM are slightly different from HOME, ACORN and COUSIN. Whilst the concept of a core outcome set underpins IDEOM’s objectives, initial activities are focused on the development and validation of patient –centred outcomes, originally for psoriasis but extending to other dermatoses including hidradenitis suppurativa. IDEOM is an international non-profit coalition of health care providers, patients and corporate members that was launched in 2013 in Boston, USA. http://dermoutcomes.org/
