Understanding how food allergen immunotherapy affects children's immune responses
Official title: Metabolomics of Food Allergen Immunotherapy
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11101312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain treatments can help kids with food allergies become less sensitive to the foods they’re allergic to, by gradually introducing small amounts of those foods and checking for signs in their bodies that show they might be getting better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $116,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI185550-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with IgE-mediated food allergies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have food allergies or are older than 11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how food allergen immunotherapy, specifically oral and sublingual methods, can help children with food allergies develop tolerance to allergens. By gradually increasing the amount of allergen exposure, the study aims to identify specific metabolites in the body that may indicate whether a child will achieve remission from their food allergies. Using advanced metabolomic profiling techniques, researchers will analyze biological samples to uncover the immune mechanisms at play. The ultimate goal is to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy for children suffering from food allergies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies that help children with food allergies achieve long-lasting remission.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar immunotherapy approaches, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Virkud, Yamini V — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Virkud, Yamini V
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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.