GET-FACTS: Genetics, Environment and Therapies: Food Allergy Clinical Tolerance Studies

Food Allergy is an increasing problem in Canada which engenders a major burden on families, schools and the health care system. In order to address potential therapies for food allergy, more must be learned about the basic differences between individuals who do not have food allergy and those that do. In trying to develop treatments that can lead to Food Tolerance rather than Food Allergy, we have built a strong multi-university, multi-disciplinary team. Our team will investigate the differences in genetic profiles for food allergic and food tolerant individuals to help predict future food allergy patents within families. We will address environmental contaminants that may activate the immune system and thus increase the risk of food allergies. We will also test novel treatment strategies based on strong fundamental science from group members. This study, which will be known as GET-FACTS (Genetics, Environment and Therapies: Food Allergy Clinical Tolerance Studies) will put Canada at the forefront of western countries in the search for novel methods to help stem the food allergy epidemic.