How nerves and the immune system cause food allergy symptoms
Official title: Project 2: Neuroimmune Interaction Mechanisms in Food Allergy
Funded at Food Allergy Science Initiative, INC. · NIH-11322742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how nerves and the immune system cause the symptoms people with food allergies feel, like nausea, breathing changes, and low blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Food Allergy Science Initiative, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | May 14, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $593,250 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI179273-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diagnosed food allergies—especially those who have experienced severe reactions or anaphylaxis—would be the most relevant group to follow this work or take part in any future human studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-food allergies or those seeking immediate new treatments may not directly benefit now because this project focuses on basic mechanistic research rather than clinical therapies.
What this research studies
Researchers will map the nerve and immune signals that drive symptoms during food allergy and anaphylaxis. They will use advanced lab tools—genetic targeting of neurons, in vivo imaging, fiber photometry, and methods that activate or remove specific nerve cells—mostly in experimental models to watch how nerves respond to allergens. The team will identify sensory and motor neuron types that detect allergens and control autonomic responses such as heart rate, breathing, and gut reflexes. That knowledge is intended to reveal targets for future treatments to reduce dangerous allergy symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce severe food allergy symptoms, including anaphylaxis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous neuroimmune and gut–brain studies have mapped nerves that drive sickness behaviors, but applying these approaches specifically to food allergy is a relatively new direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Food Allergy Science Initiative, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liberles, Stephen Daniel — Food Allergy Science Initiative, INC.
- Study coordinator: Liberles, Stephen Daniel
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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.