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Xiaobin Wang, MD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Establishing the Precursor of Food Allergy in Newborns, 2008-
There have been few genetic studies of food allergy. Yet, most childhood food allergies develop in the first few years of life, and a positive family history is a well-recognized predictor of allergic diseases. Dr. Wang and her colleagues are investigating prenatal and genetic factors that could contribute to the development of these diseases. Their study, conducted at the Boston Medical Center, will follow more than 6,000 newborns and their mothers from birth onward to identify and collect comprehensive data on cases of food allergy and other allergic diseases. This is the largest group of infants and mothers ever assembled for such a study in the United States.
The study has two primary aims:
- To test the hypothesis that prenatal factors are significant predictors that a child will develop food allergies; and
- To identify genes that may be associated with the development of food allergies in the first two years of life.
This study could enable us to identify newborns that are at high risk of developing food allergies in early childhood. Eventually, it could lead to therapies that prevent or alleviate the symptoms of food allergy.