How early immune development affects breathing and allergies in Wisconsin children
Project 1: Immune development and respiratory outcomes in children from diverse Wisconsin communities
This research compares immune development and rates of allergies and viral respiratory illnesses in infants and young children from farming, Amish, and non-farming Wisconsin communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322009 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers enroll babies at or shortly after birth and follow them through early childhood, collecting health information and biological samples over time. The team compares children raised on dairy farms, in Amish Traditional Agrarian households, and in non-farming rural homes to look for differences in immune cell function and microbial communities in the gut and nose. They measure markers such as innate immune responses, regulatory immune signals, and microbiota profiles, and track occurrences of atopic dermatitis, asthma-related signs, and respiratory infections. The goal is to identify environmental and immune patterns tied to lower allergy and viral illness risk in farm- and Amish-exposed children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are newborns and young children (infants through early childhood) from dairy farm, Amish, or non-farming rural Wisconsin communities whose parents are willing to provide samples and health information.
Not a fit: Children outside the enrolled age range, people living far outside the recruitment areas, or families unwilling to provide samples or follow-up data are unlikely to participate or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal immune and microbial signatures or exposures that protect children from allergies and viral respiratory illnesses and point toward prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies of farming and Amish environments have reported lower allergy and asthma rates and distinct microbiota and immune markers, so this work builds on promising earlier findings.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seroogy, Christine Marie — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Seroogy, Christine Marie
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.