Incyte Awards Spotlight Vitiligo Advocacy and Innovation

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This week, Incyte announced the 2024 recipients of 2 flagship initiatives—The Incyte Ingenuity Awards in Vitiligo (IIA) and the inaugural Vitiligo Innovators Program (VIP)—both of which aim to recognize and empower individuals and organizations improving the lives of those affected by vitiligo.¹

Vitiligo, impacting approximately 1% of the global population, often leads to significant psychosocial burdens for patients due to visible changes in skin appearance and the social stigma associated with them.² With limited FDA-approved treatment options until recent years, patient support, education, and advocacy remain key components of comprehensive care.

"Incyte is deeply committed to standing with the vitiligo community every step of the way - not only by advancing scientific innovation, but by elevating the voices, ideas and experiences of those most impacted by the condition," said Matteo Trotta, MBA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, US Dermatology, Incyte, in a news release. "We are proud to support this year's recipients as they drive change, offer support and create new paths toward understanding, acceptance and care."

2024 Incyte Ingenuity Awards: Strengthening Access and Advocacy

In its fourth year, the Incyte Ingenuity Awards in Vitiligo continue to support initiatives that aim to address unmet needs in advocacy, education, and access to care. In 2024, Incyte selected 2 award recipients for their impactful and forward-thinking projects.

• VITFriends Vitiligo Support Group was granted up to $100,000 to launch its Legislative and Advocacy Training Weekend, a national initiative designed to equip vitiligo patients, families, and allies with the tools to advocate for improved care access and increased public awareness.

“This opportunity allows our community to learn how to advocate for themselves and others on a broader scale,” said Valarie Molyneaux, President and CEO of VITFriends, in the release. “It’s about turning lived experience into action that can change laws, minds, and lives.”

• The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery received up to $35,000 for its study titled Barriers and Facilitators to Psychosocial Support as an Integral Aspect of Vitiligo Patient Comprehensive Care. The project aims to identify gaps in psychosocial resources available to vitiligo patients in Florida, with the goal of integrating mental health into dermatologic care.

“Our work focuses on the whole person, not just the condition,” said MD/MPH student Hannah Metheny and dermatologist Tali Czarnowicki, MD, in the release. “By understanding what stands in the way of psychosocial care, we hope to open doors for more compassionate, comprehensive treatment.”

Vitiligo Innovators Program: Elevating Leadership and Compassion

Launched in 2024, the Vitiligo Innovators Program (VIP) recognizes individual contributors in clinical care, research, and grassroots advocacy who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the vitiligo community.

• Richard Huggins, MD, of Henry Ford Health received the Health care Innovator recognition for his longstanding patient-centered approach and consistent support for vitiligo advocacy organizations.

“This recognition is not mine alone—it belongs to every person with vitiligo who has shared their story and inspired this work,” Huggins said in the release.

• Maggi Ahmed, MD, PhD, of UMass Chan Medical School was named Rising Innovator for her emerging research and commitment to developing more precise and inclusive care.

“We’re learning more every day about this complex disease, and I’m honored to be part of a future where care is more precise, more inclusive, and more hopeful,” she said in the release.

• Finally, Valarie Molyneaux, already recognized through VITFriends, also received the Community Innovator award for her decades-long work in education, community-building, and legislative advocacy.

“Living with vitiligo has shaped my purpose,” Molyneaux shared. “This award fuels our mission to create a world where people with vitiligo are seen, heard, and celebrated.”

Looking Ahead: Supporting a More Inclusive Future

Applications for the 2025 IIA and VIP awards are now open through October 31, 2025. The programs invite submissions from individuals and organizations who are driving innovative, equitable, and compassionate change in the vitiligo space. Entries are reviewed by a judging panel comprising clinicians, advocates, and community leaders including Erika Page (Living Dappled), Melissa Hughley (Patient Advocate), Richard Huggins, MD (Henry Ford Hospital), Heli Patel, MD, MBA (Thomas Jefferson University), and Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, FAAD (University of Miami; Founder of DermFriends).

For more information or to submit applications, visit: www.incyteingenuityawards.com/vitiligo and www.vitiligoinnovatorsprogram.com.

References

1. Incyte celebrates the recipients of the 2024 Incyte ingenuity awards in vitiligo and the vitiligo innovators program. News release. Incyte. Published June 28, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://cdn.incyte.com/Assets/Incyte_2025IIA-VIP_CompanyStatement_Final_28June2025.pdf
2. Salama AH, Alnemr L, Khan AR, Alfakeer H, Aleem Z, Ali-Alkhateeb M. Unveiling the unseen struggles: A comprehensive review of vitiligo's psychological, social, and quality of life impacts. Cureus. 2023 Sep 11;15(9):e45030. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45030. PMID: 37829995; PMCID: PMC10566310.