Understanding how eating certain foods can prevent food allergies
Official title: Assessing food-specific tolerogenic CD4+ T cells in protection from food allergy
Funded at Mayo Clinic Arizona · NIH-11165821 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our immune system might help prevent food allergies by exploring how eating certain foods affects allergic reactions, and it could help us find new ways to keep people safe from food allergies in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AI186242-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11165821 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of food allergies, particularly to common allergens like peanuts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have food allergies or those who have already developed severe allergic reactions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune mechanisms that may protect against food allergies, particularly focusing on how oral exposure to food antigens can influence allergic responses. By studying a mouse model, the researchers aim to uncover the role of specific immune cells, known as T follicular helper cells, in the development of food allergies. The project seeks to clarify how different routes of allergen exposure, such as through eating versus skin contact, affect the risk of developing allergies. This could lead to new insights into prevention strategies for food allergies in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention strategies for food allergies, potentially reducing the incidence of severe allergic reactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses related to food allergies, but this specific approach is novel and aims to fill significant knowledge gaps.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masuda, Mia Y. — Mayo Clinic Arizona
- Study coordinator: Masuda, Mia Y.
Related research
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New Horizons in Food Allergy Prevention and Treatment
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Targeting gut microbes to restore food-tolerance in adults
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-
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.
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.