Food Allergy Study

This is an image of liquid being dropped into a test tube

This study looks at how the immune system reacts to common food allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and eggs. By analyzing blood samples from people with and without food allergies, researchers hope to understand why some people have severe reactions and how food processing affects those responses. The goal is to improve allergy diagnosis and treatment.

Study Status

Enrollment Period

Eligibility Criteria

Age

Child (birth - 17)

Adult (18 - 64)

Older adult (65+)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Gender

Any

Contact Information

Tulane Center for Clinical Research

504-988-0200

tccr@tulane.edu

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Who Qualifies for this Study?

Food-Allergic Individuals:
Adults and children who have been diagnosed with or are suspected of having a food allergy (e.g., to peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, etc.) are eligible. These individuals will be identified during visits to Tulane’s adult and pediatric allergy clinics or through outreach via posted flyers and emails from approved organizations.

Non-Food-Allergic Controls:
Individuals who do not have food allergies may also participate as control subjects. These participants may have other types of allergies (such as to inhalants or medications) or no allergies at all.

Age:
Both adults and children are eligible. For children, a parent or guardian will need to provide consent, and age-appropriate study materials will be provided.

Consent & Questionnaire Completion:
All participants (or their guardians) must be willing to complete a consent form, a HIPAA authorization form, and a brief questionnaire about their health and allergy history.

Willingness to Provide a Blood Sample:
Participants must be able and willing to visit the Tulane Clinical Translational Unit (CTU) to have their blood drawn.

Food allergy sera bank

Protocol: 09-00231
The study team intend to analyze blood from food allergic patient to perform serum antibody binding and immune cell studies. We hope to gain insight into a) the chemical and structural properties of specific food allergens and their interactions with serum IgE; b) clinically relevant cross-reactivity; c) changes in serum antibody-allergen interactions with food processing; d) cellular immune responses to the different food allergens, particularly, T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and basophils for basophil-histamine release assays. Food allergy is increasing at an alarming rate. The CDC has released data that food allergies in the US have increased nearly 18 % since 1997. After close to 50 yrs of studying food allergy, the basics are still poorly understood, i.e., why some people have systemic reactions to foods, and others do not. We have shown in previous manuscripts and abstracts, that IgE binding to peanut, for example, is increased 90-fold by the roasting process. Since this study, processed (baked) egg and milk have been shown to be highly effective for oral immunotherapy with significantly reduced adverse effects normally associated with this treatment. Our goal is to continue investigating the structural and chemical properties of peanut and tree nut allergens that contribute to IgE production, IgE binding and the overall immune response and to begin these investigations with other allergic foods.

Patients presenting to the Tulane adult and pediatric allergy clinics will be screened for food allergy during their initial visit. A notice will be posted in the clinics for returning patients and flyers will be posted only in public areas of Tulane University, LSU, UNO and Ochsner and USDA Center (New Orleans) buildings, where special permissions are not usually required. We will request that approved officials from the LSAAI email our flyer to their members. Those who are food allergic will be offered enrollment in the study. Individuals that are determined not to be food allergic (i.e they may be allergic to inhalants or drugs or have no allergies) may also be selected for the study as “control” individuals. They will be given a study packet: HIPAA, Consent, Questionnaire, and letter for young children (if appropriate). Consents will be obtained, and potential subjects will be given contact information for the Tulane Clinical Translational Unit (CTU) to arrange their blood draw and review their questionnaires. A gift card will be given at the time of the visit to cover costs of transportation and related study expenses. Blood will be drawn at the CTU and transported for processing to the United States Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Research Center and stored there for use.

Study Overview

Food allergies are increasing at an alarming rate, with CDC data showing an 18% rise in the U.S. since 1997. Despite decades of research, the biological reasons why some individuals experience severe reactions while others do not remain unclear. This study seeks to deepen our understanding of the immune system’s response to food allergens, with a focus on the chemical and structural properties of foods like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and eggs.

The research team will analyze blood samples from both food-allergic individuals and non-allergic “control” participants. Using these samples, they will study how immune cells and antibodies—especially IgE—interact with food allergens. The study also examines how food processing (such as roasting or baking) may alter these interactions, potentially affecting the severity of allergic responses.

Participants will be recruited from Tulane’s adult and pediatric allergy clinics, as well as through flyers and notices in public areas and local institutions. Blood samples will be collected at Tulane’s Clinical Translational Unit and processed at the USDA Southern Regional Research Center. Participants will receive a study packet and a gift card to offset transportation or study-related costs. The ultimate goal is to uncover new insights that can guide safer and more effective allergy treatments.

Conditions / Diseases

Allergies

Department / Organizations

Tulane Center for Clinical Research (TCCR)

Principal Investigator

ClinicalTrials.gov

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