Early-life allergy markers in farm-living children
Biomarkers of Atopy Beginning Early (BABE)
This project looks for early-life signs in babies from farming families that may protect against eczema and food 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-11321243 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your baby's birth, researchers will follow children in traditional farming families over the first years of life, tracking who develops eczema or food allergies. They will collect skin, stool, and blood samples and measure skin barrier health, immune cells and signals, the gut microbiome, and protective metabolites. The team will compare children raised on farms with those not exposed to farm environments to find patterns linked to lower allergy risk. Findings may point to biological markers or behaviors that help explain why farm living often seems to lower allergy rates.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are newborns and infants from traditional farming households (such as Old Order Mennonite families) or families willing to enroll in a birth cohort with regular sample collection and follow‑up.
Not a fit: Children or adults with long-established allergies or those unable to participate in longitudinal sample collection and clinic visits are unlikely to benefit directly from this cohort work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early markers or protective factors that lead to ways to prevent eczema and food allergy in infants.
How similar studies have performed: Prior farm‑lifestyle birth cohorts have shown lower allergy and asthma rates and suggested microbiome and immune differences, but the exact protective mechanisms remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jarvinen-Seppo, Kirsi — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Jarvinen-Seppo, Kirsi
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.