NIH-funded research R01 grant

Food allergy outcomes by race/ethnicity from infancy through 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-11579222 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study follows children with food allergies over time to understand how race and ethnicity relate to allergy management, outcomes, and quality of life.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project startMay 11, 2017
Project endApril 30, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$236,235
NIH project number3R01AI130348-10S1
Project IDNIH-11579222 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Children with diagnosed food allergies from infancy through adolescence, and their families, across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Less likely to help

Children without food allergies or those not involved in long-term follow-up may not benefit from this study.

What this research studies

Starting in infancy, children with food allergies and their families will be tracked to see how race and ethnicity influence how food allergies are managed, treated, and lived with. Researchers will collect data on symptoms, reactions, emergency care, and access to medications across diverse populations. The study will use questionnaires, medical records, and follow-up visits to capture changes as children grow from infancy into adolescence. The goal is to identify disparities so care can be tailored to improve safety and quality of life for all groups.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to more equitable high-quality care and better support for families managing food allergies across racial and ethnic groups.

How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show racial/ethnic differences in allergy outcomes, but many gaps remain, making this study both grounded and exploratory in its approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Northwestern University
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Gupta, Ruchi S — Northwestern University
  • Study coordinator: Gupta, Ruchi S

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • New Horizons in preventing and treating food allergy

    A Johns Hopkins-led effort aims to advance how we prevent and treat food allergies across all ages by coordinating high-quality studies and developing better therapies.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11600582

  • New Horizons in Food Allergy Prevention and Treatment

    A large, multi-site program at Johns Hopkins aims to advance prevention and treatment of food allergies across all ages.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11580809

  • Gut-brain links in food allergy responses

    A research grant is exploring how signals between the gut and brain drive dangerous reactions to foods, with the goal of helping people with food allergies.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11551492

  • Targeting gut microbes to restore food-tolerance in adults

    Aims to understand how gut bacteria and the lining of the gut interact to keep people with food allergies tolerant to what they eat.

    NIH research Boston Children's Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11551491

  • Environment and early-life exposures shaping food allergy in children

    This grant looks at how a child’s first year and their home environment may influence whether they develop food allergies, focusing on indoor exposures and microbes.

    NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11450430

  • Longitudinal metabolomics in infants with food allergies

    A study in infants aims to understand how gut metabolites relate to the development of food allergies, including IgE-mediated and non-IgE cases.

    NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-11440939

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.