Understanding Immune System Development and Allergic Diseases from Birth to Adulthood
Immune Development Across the Life Course: Integrating Exposures and Multi-Omics in the Boston Birth Cohort
This project looks at how early life experiences, like exposure to germs and pollution, shape a child's immune system and their chances of developing allergies up to age 18.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11105965 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are exploring how a child's immune system develops from before birth through their teenage years. Our team is using information from the Boston Birth Cohort, which includes about 3,500 mother-child pairs followed since birth. We are examining how early exposures to different microbes and environmental pollutants might influence the development of allergic diseases. By looking at genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic data, we hope to uncover the underlying biological pathways that lead to conditions like food allergies, recurrent wheezing, and asthma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research focuses on data from children and mothers previously enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort, specifically those from birth up to 18 years of age with a history of various environmental exposures.
Not a fit: Patients not part of the existing Boston Birth Cohort or those outside the age range of birth to 18 years would not directly benefit from this specific data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to prevent allergic diseases by identifying critical early life factors and pathways that influence immune development.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research using the Boston Birth Cohort has already yielded over 120 peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating the value and quality of its data and approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Xiaobin — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Xiaobin
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 below.