Opportunities

Looking to get involved in the vitiligo community? There are more ways to raise awareness for vitiligo and support the advancement of this condition every day—and your participation is vital! Here you’ll find opportunities including but not limited to research studies, volunteer support, casting calls, awards, media and more. 

Opportunities are designed for those living with vitiligo and/or feature a topic that might be relevant to someone living with vitiligo. This list is curated by our editorial team and is updated on the first of each month. To submit an opportunity, please email erika@livingdappled.com.

Sponsored by Incyte

Vitiligo Innovators Program™

Category: Awards
Description: Incyte is launching the Vitiligo Innovators Program (VIP), which recognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to having a positive impact on people living with vitiligo. VIP was created to foster positive contributions for the vitiligo community and seeks to honor patients, caregivers, advocates, researchers, medical students, residents and/or healthcare providers for their extraordinary efforts to bring understanding, compassion and strength to the vitiligo community. Up to three recipients (one per category) will be recognized and each category is open to individual recipients. The three program categories are:

  • Healthcare innovator: Healthcare professional (i.e., nurse, PA, physician) who provides extraordinary care and/or education for people with vitiligo.
  • Rising innovator: Promising resident, medical student or researcher who focuses on advancing research in vitiligo.
  • Community innovator: An advocate or non-medical individual who has made a significant positive impact in supporting, or caring for, people with vitiligo.

VIP is open to U.S. based (includes Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) applicants.
Deadline: October 31, 2024
Learn more and apply: vitiligoinnovatorsprogram.com

Sponsored by Incyte

The Incyte Ingenuity Awards in Vitiligo™

Category: Awards
Description: Now in its third year, the Incyte Ingenuity Awards (IIA) in Vitiligo fund thoughtful, creative and original programs and resources that address specific needs of people with vitiligo. These awards will fund two novel initiatives, awarding up to $35,000 and up to $100,000, respectively, to support projects of different scales. Incyte welcomes submissions from non-profit 501(c)(3), patient, policy and caregiver organizations, healthcare providers and mid-level/junior faculty from healthcare organizations. Individuals or companies can partner with a healthcare facility or non-profit organization to be eligible to apply. IIA is open to U.S.-based (includes Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) applicants.
Deadline: October 31, 2024
Learn more and apply: https://www.incyteingenuityawards.com/vitiligo/

VIGOR Study

Category: Research
Description: VIGOR Research is looking for individuals in the U.S. or Canada with vitiligo, and their family members who do not have vitiligo, for a new online five-year NIH-funded research study. The aim of this study is to understand the causes of vitiligo and predict who might be at risk of developing it. The outcomes of this study will be helpful in learning how to prevent vitiligo and generate ideas for developing a cure by correcting the root causes. VIGOR Research is seeking 1,000 participants, including those who have vitiligo and their family members–including parents, siblings, children, and cousins–without vitiligo. Participants will engage in a five-year study via an online community. All information provided will remain confidential, and all participants will remain anonymous during the entirety of the project.
Learn more and apply: https://vigor.umassmed.edu/vigor/s/

UMass Chan Vitiligo Research Center Focus Groups

Category: Focus Groups + Surveys
Description: Share your opinion to benefit the vitiligo community: UMass Chan Vitiligo Clinic & Research Center and renowned vitiligo physician-scientist John E. Harris, MD, PhD, are seeking to create new educational materials to support individuals with vitiligo and their family members. The Center is looking for people who are willing to volunteer to share their opinions about vitiligo informational materials. Dr. Harris will be hosting focus group meetings and conducting online surveys. The focus groups will be 90-minute sessions, and the online surveys will not take more than 60 minutes to complete. If you are interested in participating, you can fill out the very short form at the link below.
Learn more and apply: https://vigor.umassmed.edu/vigor/s/https://arcsapps.umassmed.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=9HML4H3JPMLKPAET

The Walsall Healthcare & The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trusts INTERCEPT Study

Category: Research
Description: The Walsall Healthcare & The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trusts and the University of Birmingham, invite people to take part in the INTERCEPT research study. This study aims to gather participants’ views about how severity (mild, moderate and severe) and relapse/flare-up in vitiligo is described, which will then be used to help develop an international definition. This will improve the evaluation of treatment effectiveness and guide funding decisions.

Participants will join a face-to-face or online (Zoom) focus group, lasting 1.5 to 2 hours. You will have the opportunity to share your views on how vitiligo severity and relapse/flare-up should be measured, focusing on what matters most to you.

Who can participate in this study?

• People who have been diagnosed with vitiligo
• People who care for someone who has vitiligo (family and close friends)
• Healthcare professionals

Learn more and apply: j.e.jones@bham.ac.uk

Vitiligo Society Vitiligo Ambassadors

Category: Volunteer Opportunities
Description: UK-based nonprofit The Vitiligo Society is looking for volunteers to serve as “vitiligo ambassadors” for the organization. Applicants should live in the UK and may be asked to:

  • Share their vitiligo story
  • Write a blog post for the VitLife magazine
  • Share pictures to illustrate their vitiligo journey
  • Speak to the media or have their story shared with local and national media

Learn more and apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczPAvo-EcEmcbdpYsbA6fEzu0wCvaqftatIYR4GnR_gH0I6w/viewform?usp=sf_link

Community Support Volunteers

Category: Volunteer Opportunities
Description: UK-based nonprofit The Vitiligo Society needs volunteers who love helping people to serve as Community Support Volunteers. In this role a team of volunteers provides support to the organization’s mission by answering community emails, volunteering monthly to help facilitate the Live VitChat Service and volunteering to help support online VitSupport Group sessions.

Learn more and apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczPAvo-EcEmcbdpYsbA6fEzu0wCvaqftatIYR4GnR_gH0I6w/viewform?usp=sf_link

For more information about exclusive opportunities through the Dappled Darlings Community, Living Dappled’s membership network, visit https://livingdappled.com/membership/ to become a member.