Quote from Joseph on November 5, 2025, 6:24 pm

"The Epithelial Barrier Theory is a comprehensive explanation for the global, epidemic-level rise in chronic health conditions over the past 65 years. The theory, postulated by Akdis, proposes that exposure to toxic substances introduced by industrialization and modern lifestyle changes disrupts the epithelial barrier of the skin, upper and lower airways, and gut mucosa and causes microbial dysbiosis triggering an inflammatory immune response that can initiate or aggravate more than 70 chronic inflammatory diseases. The Epithelial Barrier Theory includes the ONE HEALTH concept with the strong veterinary medicine involvement of pets and domestic animals."
http://www.epithelialbarriertheory.com

Grant has been overtaken by this guy in Davos, Switzerland, Cezmi Akdis. I found him and his.... original.... theory while surfing medscape.com. The article which led me to the golden goose:

TOPLINE: 

In a US study of over 20 million patients, seborrheic dermatitis showed significant associations with multiple epithelial barrier diseases (EBDs), including various skin, gastrointestinal, and ocular conditions, supporting the epithelial barrier theory (EBT) model.

METHODOLOGY:

• The EBT proposes that barrier disruption can drive systemic immune dysregulation and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this retrospective cohort study, the researchers examined whether adults with seborrheic dermatitis have higher rates of other EBDs across skin, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and ocular systems.

The conclusion of Cezmi's latest paper:

Conclusion

In this era, where human activities have significantly altered the environment of our world, causing considerable harm to human health, it is imperative that we prioritize theories that elucidate disease mechanisms and embrace technologies developed within the framework of emerging paradigms. The epithelial barrier theory, one of the prominent explanations for the development of allergic diseases, has garnered significant support through recent research. With ongoing studies, our understanding of how environmental factors disrupt the epithelial barrier continues to expand. The evidence presented in this review emphasizes that the disruption of epithelial barrier integrity plays a pivotal role in driving microbial dysbiosis, pathological bacterial colonization, immune responses to both opportunistic pathogens, and commensals, as well as tissue inflammation. This cascade of pathological events resulting from epithelial barrier damage significantly contributes to the onset of allergic diseases, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic conditions. To address these challenges, urgent action is required to raise public awareness and implement regulations governing the use of chemicals in both industrial and household products, with a focus on minimizing exposure to toxic substances that harm epithelium. Additionally, there is a pressing need to explore innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies targeting epithelial barrier impairment and its subsequent pathological consequences.

Conflict of interest statement. C.A.A. has received research grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation, European Union (EU CURE), Novartis Research Institutes (Basel, Switzerland), Stanford University (Redwood City, Calif), and SciBase (Stockholm, Sweden); he is the Co-Chair for EAACI Guidelines on Environmental Science in Allergic diseases and Asthma and serves on the Advisory Boards of Sanofi/Regeneron, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline and SciBase, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Allergy.

I think Grant should be flattered by the plagiarism.