Food allergy differences by race/ethnicity from infancy to adolescence
Official title: Food Allergy Management and Outcomes Related to Racial/Ethnic Differences from Infancy through Adolescence: The FORWARD Study
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11397285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study follows children with food allergy from infancy through adolescence to understand how race and ethnicity affect outcomes and management.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | May 11, 2017 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $846,540 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI130348-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children with a diagnosed food allergy aged from infancy through adolescence, including Black, Hispanic, and White families.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without a diagnosed food allergy or those not engaged in ongoing follow-up may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The FORWARD study is a long-term, observational project that tracks children with food allergies to see how race and ethnicity influence outcomes such as emergency visits, management practices, and quality of life. It will collect data on demographics, clinical history, and psychosocial well-being across diverse groups, using family surveys and medical records. By following participants over time, researchers aim to identify disparities and areas where care can be improved for Black and Hispanic families as well as White peers. Participation would involve ongoing follow-up visits, questionnaires, and access to medical history relevant to food allergy care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reveal disparities in food allergy management and outcomes, guiding targeted interventions to reduce risk and improve quality of life for underserved groups.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary research suggests racial/ethnic differences exist, but comprehensive longitudinal data are limited, making FORWARD a novel contribution.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gupta, Ruchi S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Gupta, Ruchi S
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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.