Discovering Epidemiological and Clinical Manifestations of Allergies

Our researchers have:

• Identified risk factors for anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction.
• Described aspects of the natural progression of egg, milk, and peanut allergies.
• Found that peanut allergies have more than tripled in children in the United States since the late 1990s.
• Discovered that food allergies cause an inflammation of the esophagus called eosinophilic esophagitis.
• Characterized and coined the term “Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome” (FPIES), a non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy disorder.

Finding Ways to Diagnose Allergies

Our researchers have:

• Used double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges to determine the role of food allergy in atopic dermatitis.
• Identified the relationship of blood test results to food allergy outcomes to improve diagnosis, a technique now used worldwide.
• Identified important components of multiple allergens for improving diagnosis.

Creating Better Allergy Treatments

Our researchers have:

• Determined that baked forms of milk or egg may be tolerated by most people with such allergies and that ingestion may speed resolution of the allergies.
• Conducted studies of novel therapies using ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Developed a novel food allergy vaccine made up of mutated proteins.
• Ran the first placebo-controlled study of egg oral immunotherapy.
• Conducted the first placebo-controlled trial of dual therapy (immunotherapy and anti-IgE).
• Administered the first placebo-controlled trial of anti-IgE for food allergy (a form of treatment for allergic conditions).
• Conducted multiple studies that led to improved food labeling.
• Continued to explore the possibility of peptide-based vaccines.

Advancing Allergy Education and Advocacy

Our researchers have:

• Developed the first validated, publicly accessible educational program for managing childhood food allergies.
• Conducted studies emphasizing the effect of food allergies on quality of life and concerns about bullying.