Last Wednesday, the National Institutes of Health announced that the Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), established in 2005, will be funded for five more years. This is a 29.9 million dollar grant and is great news for those affected by food allergy. From low allergy peanuts to polyphenol-enriched apple extract to desensitizing people to their allergens, there is incredible research happening in the area of food allergy right now.
"We are pleased to continue our support of CoFAR, NIAID’s major program dedicated to exploring the causes of food allergy and developing new treatment and prevention strategies," says Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation at NIAID. CoFAR plans to expand research into the genetic components of food allergy and broaden research into disorders such as EoE.
This is much needed money for scientists to continue to unlock the puzzle of food allergy. After a LONG dry spell, food allergy is finally getting the attention and funds to address causes and treatment. That's great news for millions of people!
Monday, 19 July 2010
Friday, 16 July 2010
Allergy Medication: The EpiKey
Epipens® and Twinjects® are a wonderful medical device that save lives of those experiencing an anaphylactic reaction due to food, insect sting or latex allergy. I also find them to be bulky and I worry about my child carrying the medicine as a teen and young adult. It turns out someone else was worried about that too. TCB Medical Devices has developed the EpiKey, a small epinephrine device that fits on a key chain.
The EpiKey was created by Thomas C. Beller, MD., an allergist in South Carolina. Dr. Beller hopes this device will save lives with its small size and ease of use. It's on a fast-track for FDA approval.
I'll keep you posted.
The EpiKey was created by Thomas C. Beller, MD., an allergist in South Carolina. Dr. Beller hopes this device will save lives with its small size and ease of use. It's on a fast-track for FDA approval.
I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Food Allergy App
Another helpful tool for people dealing with food allergies is on the horizon. Expected out in mid July 2010, NutriSleuth iphone App allows users to plug in dietary requirements for an instant "yes" or "no" reading within seconds of scanning a product's barcode. Individualized profiles allow users to determine if the food is allowed for each family member. It even offers alternative choices!
Aahhh...simplified grocery shopping...
Aahhh...simplified grocery shopping...
Monday, 12 July 2010
Food Allergy Reseach
How about this grandma who burst into action when her grandson was diagnosed with food allergies?. Lita Indzel Cohen started a foundation, FARI (Food Allergy Research Initiative), basing it in the lab at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.
The goal of FARI is to study food allergy and develop a treatment for it. They've been making progress using immune modulation to decrease the severity of allergic responses in peanut allergic mice.
Hopefully FARI research will lead to treatment and a cure for Lita's grandson and many others who deal with food allergies.
As more pieces of the puzzle are added, hopefully appropriate food allergy treatments will emerge. Thanks for your contribution, Lita!
The goal of FARI is to study food allergy and develop a treatment for it. They've been making progress using immune modulation to decrease the severity of allergic responses in peanut allergic mice.
Hopefully FARI research will lead to treatment and a cure for Lita's grandson and many others who deal with food allergies.
As more pieces of the puzzle are added, hopefully appropriate food allergy treatments will emerge. Thanks for your contribution, Lita!
Friday, 9 July 2010
Food Allergy Cooking Show on Oprah Network?
Oprah begins her OWN TV debut in Jan. 2011. Her casting call brought in oodles of entries and millions of votes. In the cooking category, "Cooking Allergy Free with Dee", soared to the top with over a million votes. Dee is off to Hollywood to convince Oprah, and the other powers that be, that her show deserves a slot.
I'm thrilled to see so much interest in a show like this. Dee is a mother of four. Two of her kids have multiple food allergies. She's like many of us as she tries to find delicious meal, snacks and treats for her children, with the added challenge of avoiding many major food groups.
Good luck, Dee!
I'm thrilled to see so much interest in a show like this. Dee is a mother of four. Two of her kids have multiple food allergies. She's like many of us as she tries to find delicious meal, snacks and treats for her children, with the added challenge of avoiding many major food groups.
Good luck, Dee!
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Common Sense for Food Allergies
I heard on the news this morning that a recent study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that changing to a later start time for high school students is good for adolescents.
Makes perfect sens to me. Years of research has shown that the body clock during the teen years shifts to going to bed later and getting up later. We know this and should use this information wisely.
What does this have to do with food allergies, you may ask?
Well, this study seems like common sense to me. I don't believe we've used common sense for food allergies. Allergic to pollen? Get regular injections of minute doses of pollen to desensitize the body to pollen. Allergic to milk? Avoid it forever.
I've never thought that made sense. We do it in our house because that's the doctor's orders, but it doesn't seem like good common sense. Since getting the blood test results for my allergic child last week, I'm even more convinced. After 10 years of strict avoidance of multiple foods, all numbers are up- by a lot. My child is not out-growing any of these allergies. As a matter of fact, things are heading in the wrong direction.
This isn't good enough any more. I'm hopeful about a cow's milk immunotherapy study published recently in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This study involved placing cow's milk protein on unbroken skin in an effort to desensitize people.
Just yesterday, DBV Technologies got the go-ahead from the FDA to begin human clinical investigation of peanut desensitization. Trials begin this month in six medical centers in the U.S.
Avoidance isn't working. Desensitization makes common sense when it comes to food allergy. I recognize there are risks involved and I certainly do not recommend desensitization at home right now. But, let's all keep talking to our allergists and pushing for something better than "strictly avoid".
Stay tuned. We're starting to use common sense in food allergy treatment.
Makes perfect sens to me. Years of research has shown that the body clock during the teen years shifts to going to bed later and getting up later. We know this and should use this information wisely.
What does this have to do with food allergies, you may ask?
Well, this study seems like common sense to me. I don't believe we've used common sense for food allergies. Allergic to pollen? Get regular injections of minute doses of pollen to desensitize the body to pollen. Allergic to milk? Avoid it forever.
I've never thought that made sense. We do it in our house because that's the doctor's orders, but it doesn't seem like good common sense. Since getting the blood test results for my allergic child last week, I'm even more convinced. After 10 years of strict avoidance of multiple foods, all numbers are up- by a lot. My child is not out-growing any of these allergies. As a matter of fact, things are heading in the wrong direction.
This isn't good enough any more. I'm hopeful about a cow's milk immunotherapy study published recently in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This study involved placing cow's milk protein on unbroken skin in an effort to desensitize people.
Just yesterday, DBV Technologies got the go-ahead from the FDA to begin human clinical investigation of peanut desensitization. Trials begin this month in six medical centers in the U.S.
Avoidance isn't working. Desensitization makes common sense when it comes to food allergy. I recognize there are risks involved and I certainly do not recommend desensitization at home right now. But, let's all keep talking to our allergists and pushing for something better than "strictly avoid".
Stay tuned. We're starting to use common sense in food allergy treatment.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Food Allergy Support
Food Allergy Initiative has an extensive list of food allergy support groups in the U.S. as well as internationally. Helpful for those newly diagnosed, support groups also benefit those more experienced through expert speaker presentations and advocacy opportunities within the community. It is always helpful to learn from others with similiar experiences. Check out a local support group today.
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