A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Funding Sources of Dermatologic Clinical Trials: Supplemental Tables

Introduction:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest public funding source for medical research, yet funding for dermatology research has decreased by 24% in recent decades. This has prompted investigators to explore alternative funding sources.1,2 This study examines funding and topic trends for dermatologic clinical trials.

Methods:
A comprehensive list of trials completed between 2000-2023 was extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov. Funding sources were classified as Federal, Industry, Network, Individual, NIH, non-NIH governmental funding, and Other. Chi-square analysis was conducted using SPSS to explore relationships between funding sources, topics, and years, with a significance at p<0.05.

Results:
A total of 2,603 trials were analyzed, revealing a peak in funding in 2018 with 223 trials, followed by a sharp decline, with only 33 trials funded in 2023. Industry was the dominant funding source, followed by NIH and Other sources. Significant shifts in funding distribution were observed over time (χ²=182.353, p=0.002), with psoriasis, infectious diseases, and melanoma receiving the most funding. Industry funding prioritized psoriasis, cosmetics, and acne, while NIH funding concentrated on cutaneous oncology.

Discussion:
These findings emphasize the changing landscape of dermatologic research funding and highlight the need for continued investment in underfunded areas, particularly those with a high global disease burden.3,4 Rapid changes in governmental allocation of research funds will undoubtedly influence the future of dermatology.

Conclusion:
Recognizing funding trends highlights current disease priorities and reveals areas with growing needs. Dermatology societies must advocate for diverse funding sources to address emerging challenges and ensure equitable research across all dermatologic conditions.