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Grant Program News
FAAN has expanded its research budget to $1.4 million this year. One million dollars is being offered in research grants ($200,000 more than last year) and $400,000 is earmarked for an NIH initiative that will bring more scientists into the field of food allergy.
We are beginning the fifth year of the grant program, and its impact was seen at the annual AAAAI meeting--one of the most prestigious allergy meetings-- in March 2008. Eight presentations acknowledged FAAN for providing funding, more than any other year. FAAN-initiated research was also well represented at the meeting in five presentations.
Many thanks to the support of donors and members. Their support has enabled research in food allergy and anaphylaxis to expand and continues to move us toward new treatments and potentially a cure for food allergy.
Highlights
Oral Immunotherapy
In 2005, FAAN began funding a pilot study of peanut oral immunotherapy. This year, the study results were presented at AAAAI. The researchers concluded that peanut oral immunotherapy may be effective in decreasing the risk of an allergic reaction due to accidental ingestion, but further research is needed. They cautioned that the results are preliminary and that much more needs to be done to show the safety and effectiveness of this therapy, but the study shows promise.
In 2006, FAAN began funding a second oral immunotherapy study, this one for both milk and peanut allergy. The first results were presented at the AAAAI meeting. This research team is looking to find the appropriate dosing and schedule; the study will continue through 2008.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal, a special type of charcoal used in medical settings (not the type for outdoor grills), is most commonly used in emergencies for accidental poisonings to prevent further absorption of the poison into the body.
Read more about Activated Charcoal
FAAN is funding a study to determine whether activated charcoal is effective as a supplemental emergency treatment for peanut allergic reactions. The first results were presented at AAAAI, and the scientists concluded that activated charcoal shows promise. The charcoal works by preventing further absorption of the allergen in the stomach and intestines, which may slow or prevent the onset of anaphylaxis. This therapy is not likely one that would be used at home, because activated charcoal is difficult to swallow; rather, it has some potential for use in emergency rooms.
Peanut "Vaccine"
In 2007, FAAN began funding a study to develop another form of the peanut "vaccine." This study is investigating whether an effective peanut allergy vaccine can be designed to target specific immune cells that play a role in peanut allergy.
The initial results of this study were presented at AAAAI; the scientists have shown that the early form of this vaccine is targeting the correct cells.
Causes of Food Allergy
In 2006, FAAN began funding a study to determine how sensitization occurs and why some children with peanut allergy report having a reaction the first time they eat peanut. Early results from the study, presented at AAAAI, showed that sensitization to peanut may be occurring through the skin, but much more research is needed to understand this process and the causes of food allergy.
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