SOCS Career Development Award

SOCS Career Development Award is sponsored by Skin of Color Society. This non-renewable award focuses on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color, addressing areas needing further clinical, translational, and basic research.

CDA - Skin of Color Society The SOCS Career Development Award, which will award up to $100,000 which can be used over a two-year period and which is non-renewable. This award should have a research focus on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color, in areas where further clinical, translational, and basic research is needed.

It is the expectation that the recipient(s) of these awards will be tomorrow’s leaders in dermatology, helping to shape the future of the specialty. October 5 – December 1, 2026 SOCS utilizes an online application program that streamlines the application and the review process. Below is a partial checklist of the information you will need to supply in your application.

With the exception of headshots uploaded documents must be a PDF file.

MD, MD/PhD, DO, PhD with an established track record of academic excellence Faculty member with a primary appointment in US Department or Division of dermatology Within 12 years since completion of post-graduate training Applicant must have appropriate training and experience with a proven or emerging track record and a strong commitment to dermatologic research in the field of skin of color.

This may include clinical, translational, or basic science with clinical applications Applicant must serve as the principal investigator for the study Skin of Color Society Member Note that previous applicants are eligible to re-apply. Up to $100,000 for one year. Can be used over a two-year period by request.

Non-renewable; indirect costs not allowed. Strong institutional support required. Can concurrently hold other funding.

Not eligible to apply for other SOCS research funding. Please note the grant funding cannot be used for indirect departmental costs, travel expenses, overhead costs, IRB fees or to purchase capital equipment such as computers, cellular phones, tablets, appliances, machinery, camera equipment, sensors, etc. Direct salary support for the applicant is allowed provided 50% of the applicant’s time is dedicated to research.

IRB must be approved or submitted, pending approval at the time of grant application and must remain approved throughout the term of the award. Two years, beginning April 1. Application Requirements: Career Development Award checklist (PDF Form) Applicant NIH Biosketch ( https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/forms/biosketch. htm ) Chair CV/Biosketch ( https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/forms/biosketch.

htm ) Mentor’s Formal Letter of Support Department Chair/Division Chief Comments of Support (MS Word) * Summary of Career Goals (online form) Research Proposal (online form) Headshot (300 dpi or higher professional headshot) The Research Committee of the Skin of Color Society will assume the responsibility for reviewing grant applications, making funding recommendations, and monitoring the grants program.

Summary of research results must be submitted in the Skin of Color Society newsletter as well as presented at the SOCS annual meeting two years after receipt of the grant. About the Chair’s Comments of Support Form This form is a critical element in your application package.

The Chair’s Comments of Support form is to be completed by the chair of the department or division of dermatology at your institution and covers the following topics: Outline of a plan defining the department’s commitment to the applicant including a description of the training environment, the supervision that will be provided, the qualifications of the mentor for the development of the applicant’s career, and departmental commitments/resources devoted to support the applicant including salary and space allocations.

Your plan must compass a 3-year period for SOCS-CDA applicants. Plans for future funding of the applicant The importance of the award and the project to the applicant and the institution. The department’s track record in obtaining research funding.

Certification that the applicant will devote the time required to the proposed project. Career Development Award Recipients 2026 Leandra A.

Barnes, MD Stanford University School of Medicine Investigating the Role of Geospatial Social Determinants of Health in Diagnosis and Healthcare Inequities in Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS): A Mixed-Methods and Machine Learning Approach 2025 Courtney Johnson, MD, PhD Investigating the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Immunodetection of Mycosis Fungoides The 2025 SOCS Career Development Award was made possible thanks to the support from Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer.

2024 Jessica Shiu, MD, PhD Elucidating Racial Differences in Vitiligo Presentation & Treatment Response The 2024 SOCS Career Development Award was made possible thanks to the support from Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer.

Establishing A Transcriptomic Model for CCCA Diagnosis and Severity Carmelo Carmona-Rivera, PhD Dysregulation of NETs modulates inflammation, autoimmune features and end-organ damage in Hidradenitis suppurativa Elucidating Scarring Alopecia to Extend Follicular life in Black children and adolescents (ESCAPE Study) The 2023 SOCS Career Development Awards were made possible thanks to the support from Bristol Myers Squibb, L’Oréal and Pfizer.

Racial Differences in Germline and Somatic Mutations in Prurigo Nodularis The 2022 SOCS Career Development Award is made possible thanks to the support from Pfizer. 2021 Angel S. Byrd, MD, PhD Elucidating the Role of Autoantibodies in Hidradenitis Suppurativa The 2021 SOCS Career Development Award is made possible thanks to the support from Pfizer.