Birth cohort and sample bank for early-life allergy research
Cohort Administration and Biorepository Core
This project follows newborns from farming and city communities and collects health data and biological samples to learn how early-life environments affect the chance of developing allergies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321246 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, we will enroll newborns from the Old Order Mennonite farming community and from Rochester and follow them through early childhood. We will collect and store biological samples (for example stool and blood) and house dust to study the infant gut microbiome, immune cells, and environmental microbes. The Core manages the data and biobanked samples that support three linked projects looking for early signs of atopic dermatitis, food allergy, hayfever, and asthma. The goal is to compare exposures like unpasteurized milk and animal contact with later allergy outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and infants (and their parents) from the Old Order Mennonite community or the Rochester area who are willing to provide samples and participate in long-term follow-up are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults, older children beyond early childhood, or families unwilling to provide repeated samples or take part in follow-up would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early markers and environmental factors that help prevent or predict childhood allergic diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous cohort studies have linked farm exposures and unpasteurized milk to lower allergy risk and distinctive infant gut microbiomes, so this project builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seppo, Antti — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Seppo, Antti
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.