Alpha-gal red meat allergy
Understanding alpha-gal red meat allergy
Researchers are using advanced immune cell profiling to learn why some adults develop an IgE allergy to alpha‑gal after tick bites that causes delayed allergic reactions to beef and pork.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258891 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will collect blood and immune cells from adults with suspected or confirmed alpha‑gal allergy. They will use single‑cell RNA sequencing and surface marker tests to map which immune cells make the allergy‑linked IgE. The team will compare genetic and tick‑exposure histories to see whether the risk comes from a person’s genes or from something in ticks. Results aim to explain how this delayed red‑meat allergy starts and persists.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have experienced delayed allergic reactions after eating beef or pork, or who have a positive alpha‑gal IgE blood test—especially with a history of tick bites—are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without red‑meat allergy symptoms, children, or those whose food allergies are unrelated to alpha‑gal are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could improve diagnosis, prevention, and targeted approaches to reduce life‑threatening allergic reactions to mammalian meat.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies linked alpha‑gal IgE to tick bites and to reactions from cetuximab, but applying single‑cell immune profiling to define the mechanism is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Commins, Scott Palmer — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Commins, Scott Palmer
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.