Forum

To all,

I do not come onto this forum often. Some of you may know that my research team at the University of Colorado has been researching the genetic basis of vitiligo for almost 20 years, and we have made outstanding progress. Our findings have been published in some of the world's leading medical journals.

We are in now completing a third major phase of the research project. We already know this phase will dramatically expand what we know about vitiligo, quite possibly leading to genetic tests for vitiligo susceptibility in patients' relatives, identify biological subtypes of vitiligo that may allow more targeted treatment to specific patients, and likely will provide new insights that will enable new approaches to treatment.

However, we still need a few additional study participants, and we basically need folks to participate right now. Participation is quite easy and costs nothing. All you need to do is fill out the study entry questionnaire posted on the Vitiligo Friends site (http://www.vitiligofriends.org/forum/topics/vitiligo-genetic-studies-participants-needed), save it, and mail or email it to me at the addresses provided on the form. We will then send you official study forms, a saliva sampling kit, and a prepaid return mailer. Ideally, you would also recruit an unrelated non-vitiligo "control" subject for your sample.  All of your study data remain confidential; unfortunately, we are not permitted to return individual-level study data to participants. 

The current phase of the study is only open to Caucasians in the USA and Canada. This phase of the study will close in the next few months. If you have never participated in our studies and submitted a sample, please consider doing so now.  It will make a difference. 

With thanks in advance,

Richard A. Spritz, M.D.

richard.spritz@ucdenver.edu