DataDerm data request program

Database overview

DataDerm is a retrospective, patient-level repository of Electronic Health Record (EHR) data collected from participating practices nationwide. Data are securely extracted from practice EHR systems and aggregated into a centralized research database. Although the data support Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting, the database extends well beyond quality reporting and is designed to facilitate clinically meaningful research.

Data available for research include, but are not limited to:

• Patient information such as date of birth, gender, geographic location, or insurance

• Visit information such as place of service, clinician type, or visit type

• Clinical and medical information such as diagnoses, medications, procedures, or comorbidities

Data not currently available for research include: laboratory results (including external labs), claims, cost and billing data, scheduling data, patient correspondence records, external pathology reports, and images.

Data linkage opportunities

When appropriate and available, the database can be linked with external datasets to enhance research projects. Previous linkages have included:

• National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES)

• Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) data

• U.S. Census data

• Private institutional datasets

Linkages may be conducted at the:

• Patient level

• Clinician level

• Practice or location level

These linkages can support studies examining access to care, geographic variation, workforce trends, and social determinants of health.

Eligibility

To submit a proposal, you must have current AAD membership, up-to-date disclosures, and adherence to authorship and conflict-of-interest rules. Submissions are limited to one per individual per year. You must have an AAD member sponsor if you are a student, international fellow, affiliate, or adjunct. To ensure fairness, the program does not accept proposals from members of the Data Governance Task Force (DGTF) or DataDerm Oversight Committee (DDOC).

Proposal selection process and criteria

The DGTF uses a structured and transparent process to evaluate proposals requesting access to DataDerm. Each proposal is assessed for its relevance to current unmet needs in dermatology, feasibility for the DataDerm database, clarity of the research approach, and potential to advance patient care, education, and future research. Final selection decisions are based on scores and DGTF discussion, with constructive feedback shared with applicants whenever possible.

To align with assessment criteria, your proposal should be a concise document no more than 3 pages (single-spaced, 11 point Arial font, 0.5 inch margins) that emphasizes both scientific rigor and strategic alignment with the AAD mission. Proposals must be written to highlight the significance of the work to clinical dermatology and AAD membership.

Required proposal sections

Significance: Explain the project’s relevance to dermatology and to the AAD membership.

• How it fits into current dermatology knowledge

• How it addresses AAD priorities

• Impact of the award on the field of dermatology

• Impact of the award on the career trajectory of the investigator

Innovation: Identify the specific gaps in existing literature this study fills, such as:

• How this expands existing knowledge that can’t be done with other study types

• Methodological or technical innovation that will result in new analysis frameworks or quality benchmarks

• Why other existing databases are insufficient to answer the question

Approach and analytic plan: This section should include:

• Specific aim(s)

• A clear testable hypothesis

• Planned methods for testing the hypothesis

• An expected treatment effect and power analysis

• Potential pitfalls and alternative analysis plans

• A table of key variables needed from the DataDerm registry

• Expected results and future work

References: This section does not count toward the 3 page limit

1. Underutilization of patch testing for contact dermatitis: insights from DataDerm. (JAAD)

2. Rural-urban disparities in the use of biologics and nonsteroidal topicals for inflammatory dermatologic conditions: a DataDerm study. (JAAD)

3. The 2024 annual report of DataDerm: the database of the American Academy of Dermatology.(JAAD)

4. Association between rosacea and increased cardiovascular risk factors: a case-control study using the DataDerm database. (JAAD Int.)

5. Higher odds of dupilumab prescriptions for black patients with atopic dermatitis: results of a retrospective study using DataDerm, the database of the American Academy of Dermatology. (JAAD)

6. Patient characteristics, diagnostic testing utilization, and antifungal prescribing pattern for onychomycosis in the USA: a cohort study using DataDerm, 2016-2022.(Skin Appendage Disord.)