Celebrating the Breakthroughs Shaping the Future of Canine Health. Meet the 2025 Canine Health Discovery Award Finalists.

Skin & Allergies Research

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) funds research aimed at improving the health of dogs by understanding, diagnosing, and treating skin and allergic diseases.

Why We Focus on Skin & Allergies

Allergic skin disease, also known as atopy, is one of the most common and frustrating health issues dogs face. This condition causes itching, redness, and inflammation, making everyday life uncomfortable for affected dogs. For many dogs and their owners, managing these allergies becomes a lifelong struggle that requires constant care and attention. In addition to the physical discomfort, allergic dogs often develop secondary infections, which can further impact their quality of life and may even contribute to antimicrobial resistance—making infections harder to treat over time.

For dog owners, managing allergies and skin conditions in their pets can be time-consuming, expensive, and challenging. While there are treatments available, many don’t fully address the complexity of the disease or its underlying causes. That’s why it’s so important to support research that explores new, more effective treatment strategies. By advancing our understanding of allergic skin disease, we can develop better solutions that provide long-lasting relief, reduce the need for continuous treatments, and ultimately improve the lives of dogs and their families.

Research Grants

University of Georgia Logo
2025 Active Grant
Skin & Allergies $177,108.74
03431: Genome-wide investigation of alopecia X in Pomeranians
Breed(s): Pomeranian
Researcher(s): Tori Rudolph
Long Island University Logo
2023 Active Grant
Skin & Allergies $19,999
03215-A: Investigation of the Role of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Phenol-soluble Modulins in Canine Pyoderma
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Ching Yang, DVM, PhD
University of Zurich Logo
2023 Active Grant
Skin & Allergies $114,048
03162: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Treatment of Canine Atopic Dermatitis
Breed(s): West Highland White Terrier
Researcher(s): Ana Rostaher, DVM and Nina Maria Fischer, DVM
University of Florida Logo
2023 Active Grant
Skin & Allergies $19,996
03166-A: Evaluation of the Effects of Diluted Sodium Hypochlorite on Skin Microbiome in Dogs with Superficial Pyoderma and Atopic Dermatitis: a Single Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD and Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, DVM, PhD
University of Georgia Logo
2021 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $57,658
02921-MOU: Transcriptome Profiling of Canine Familial Dermatomyositis Skin Lesions and Treatment with a JAK Inhibitor to Identify Novel Pathways Involved in Pathogenesis
Breed(s): Collie, Shetland Sheepdog
Researcher(s): Frane Banovic, DVM, PhD
R(D)SVS and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh Logo
2021 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $99,830
02829: Investigating the Potential of Phage Therapy to Tackle Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Infections in Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Gavin Paterson, PhD
University of Illinois Logo
2020 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $25,354
02837: Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Canine Superficial Pyoderma: Is the One-Week Post Resolution of Clinical Signs a Valid Rule-of-Thumb?
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Clarissa P. Souza, DVM, MS, PhD
University of Florida Logo
2020 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $14,999
02825-A: Effect(s) of Atopic Dermatitis-associated Cytokines on Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD
University of Florida Logo
2020 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $79,369
02694: Investigation on the Molecular Crosstalk between Canine Atopic Skin and Microbes: Unraveling Potential Pathomechanisms for Chronic Recurrent Skin Infections
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD
University of Missouri, Columbia Logo
2019 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $10,000
02673-MOU: Searching for the Cause for Alopecia X by Whole Genome Sequencing
Breed(s): Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Keeshond, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Schipperke, Siberian Husky
Researcher(s): Gary S. Johnson, DVM, PhD
Purdue University Logo
2019 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $99,105
02651: Discovery of Novel Biomarkers of Canine Atopic Dermatitis through Lipid Profiling
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Harm HogenEsch, DVM, PhD
University of Tennessee Logo
2019 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $47,082
02597: Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in the United States
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Stephen A. Kania, PhD
University of Florida Logo
2019 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $14,967
02653-A: Evaluation of the Serum and Cutaneous Levels of Chemokines in Atopic Dogs
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc, PhD
University of Georgia Logo
2017 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $9,747
02472-A: Effect of Lokivetmab on Tissue Biomarkers of Canine Atopic Dermatitis using RNA Sequencing
Breed(s): All Dogs
Researcher(s): Frane Banovic, DVM, PhD
Clemson University Logo
2016 Closed Grant
Skin & Allergies $11,704
02261-MOU: Improvement of Risk Assessments for Dermatomyositis Testing
Breed(s): Shetland Sheepdog
Researcher(s): Leigh Anne Clark, PhD

Join Us in Advancing
Canine Health

With more than $488,000 supporting canine skin & allergies research, CHF is deeply committed to improving the lives of affected dogs and their families.