DEBRA UK is part of DEBRA International, a worldwide network of national groups working on behalf of people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). EB is a family of genetic skin conditions where keratins, collagens or laminins required to bind layers of skin together may be absent, making the skin fragile and prone to blistering and open wounds. DEBRA UK has been the largest funder of global research since its formation nearly 40 years ago and jointly manages a centralised research grant assessment process on behalf of DEBRA International. This coordinated approach, which helps to avoid unnecessary duplication and ensures International research efforts are tightly focused, has enabled significant progress in the understanding of EB in recent years.