Safety of a standardized egg ladder for children with egg allergy
Official title: Assessing the safety of a standardized egg ladder in the management of children with IgE-mediated egg allergy
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11453575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A first-in-children study tests a simple, at-home stepwise egg exposure plan to make egg allergy management safer and easier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $189,000 |
| NIH project number | 1UH2AI196606-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 with IgE-mediated egg allergy and caregivers willing to participate in home-based guidance.
✕Less likely to help
Children with non-IgE-mediated egg issues or those unwilling to follow home-based guidance may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at whether a standardized egg ladder can be safely used at home to help children with IgE-mediated egg allergy. It focuses on 0-11 year olds and aims to reduce the burden of current, more resource-intensive options like egg oral immunotherapy or baked egg challenges. The approach would involve a clear progression of egg-containing foods with guidance to minimize adverse events and doctor visits. If successful, it could lead to more practical, culturally appropriate strategies for families to gradually increase tolerance. The study will track safety and adherence to the ladder, along with any signs of tolerance development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could manage egg allergy more safely at home with fewer medical visits and improved quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Egg ladder approaches are used outside the US and have shown potential, but formal US-based, standardized evaluation is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hicks, Allison Grace — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Hicks, Allison Grace
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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.