Taking the Bite Out of Food Allergy

Food allergy is a serious health concern in the United States. Currently no treatment exists for the disease; it can be managed only by avoiding the allergenic food or by treating symptoms when they arise.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, is the lead government agency conducting research on food allergy. Since 2003, NIAID has substantially increased its support for food allergy research, which now spans basic research in allergy and immunology to clinical trials that are testing new strategies to treat and prevent the disease.

Currently, NIAID is conducting a clinical trial to improve the understanding of how the immune system responds to food allergens and how immune cells contribute to disease in people with various allergic, hypersensitivity, and inflammatory disorders. People aged 18 to 65 years of age who have been diagnosed with one of the following conditions may be eligible to volunteer for this study:

• Eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), including eosinophilic esophagitis or eosinophilic gastroenteritis
• Peanut or milk allergy with severe symptoms such as hives, wheezing, or throat tightness

Read more about the clinical trial studying food allergy and EGIDs (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01212016).

Content provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.