Understanding how food allergens cause severe allergic reactions
Official title: Determinants of oral anaphylaxis to food
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10923786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how food allergens, like peanuts and eggs, can get through the gut barrier and cause serious allergic reactions in kids, and it aims to find out if certain genes and new treatments can help protect against this.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $798,975 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168016-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923786 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 food allergies, particularly to peanuts or eggs.
✕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 aims to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that allow food allergens to cross the gut barrier, which can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis in children with food allergies. By studying mouse models of peanut and egg allergies, the researchers will explore genetic factors that influence the risk of anaphylaxis and investigate potential drug treatments that could strengthen the gut barrier. The study will involve advanced genetic mapping techniques to identify specific genes associated with reduced gut permeability to allergens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention strategies for food allergies, potentially reducing the incidence of anaphylaxis in affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding genetic factors related to food allergies, but this specific approach using genetic mapping and drug treatments is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Adam — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Williams, Adam
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.