Vital Science

Imagine giving birth to a baby girl and noticing pieces of skin missing from her body almost immediately.  For Sharmila Nikapota, this was the case with her firstborn, Sohana. Genetic testing revealed that she was one of the over 500,000 people globally suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a “constantly painful and debilitating” skin condition where minimal contact can lead to blisters, wounds, tissue damage, eating difficulties, and eye injuries, among other symptoms. After seeking answers for her daughter’s prognosis and not getting any, Sharmila started Cure EB to educate people and eventually discover ways to manage this painful condition. With the UK approving a first-of-its-kind topical treatment for EB, she hopes it’s the first of many that can give patients like her daughter a better quality of life.Join Sharmila as she discusses how Sohana’s experience with EB has shaped her personality, the origin and mission of Cure EB, the challenges of managing Sohana’s condition, and what you can do to fur