Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Dr. Kumar has worked as an academic allergist at Lurie Children's for over 18 years. He has a number of research interests. Most prominently he is interested in the prenatal and early life exposures, which in combination with genetic factors are associated with the development of early childhood wheezing, atopic disease and asthma. Dr. Kumar also has interests in a number of other areas including:the determinants of lung function from childhood into later adult life (CARDIA study), development of food allergy in early infancy, and validation of PROMIS instruments in asthma (AAD-PEPR study). Additionally, he serves as the site-PI for a consortium which evaluates personalized medicine approaches for severe asthma.
Dr. Kumar's research is focused on prenatal and early life exposures, which in combination with genetic factors are associated with the development of early childhood wheezing, asthma, and allergic disease. In particular, differentially distributed risk factors and differentially distributed genetic factors may contribute to asthma health disparities in inner city populations. In terms of differentially distributed genetic factors, we have focused on the role of ancestry in modulating phenotypes such as plateau lung function. We also have evaluated the role of racially differentially distributed early life factors on the development of associated phenotypes including atopy. Our research in these areas has been published in a number of journals including the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, and The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Kumar also has interests in a number of other areas including:the determinants of lung function from childhood into later adult life (CARDIA study), development of food allergy in early infancy, and validation of PROMIS instruments in asthma (AAD-PEPR study). Additionally, he serves as the site-PI for a consortium which evaluates personalized medicine approaches for severe asthma.
Dr. Kumar's clinical focus complements my research profile with a focus on provision of asthma care to inner city families. With over a decade of experience in this area, we provide family centered multidisciplinary care in this population. Dr. Kumar also oversees a clinic which looks to implement guidelines for assessment of peanut allergy in the first 4-6 months of life and early peanut introduction. As an allergist in a tertiary care referral center of excellence, he also has extensive experience in management of other allergic diseases including food allergy, rhinitis, eczema and drug allergy. Dr. Kumar serves as the clinical practice director for the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Lurie Children's Hospital.
Certifications and Licenses
Allergy & Immunology |
Training Experience
1993 | Internship, Charles Camsell Provincial General Hospital, Canada |
1997 | Residency, Children's Hospital, Winnipeg |
1999 | Fellowship, Children's Hospital, Winnipeg |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
MD, Medicine, University of Alberta
… → 1992
Research interests keywords
- Asthma
- Food Allergy
- Genomics
- Health Disparities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Mechanisms for initiation of food allergy early in life
Kumar, R. (PD/PI)
Indiana University, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
7/1/20 → 6/30/25
Project: Research project
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MILES: A double-blind, placebo controlled randomized trial to study Viaskin Milk Efficacy and Safety for treating IgE-Mediated Cow's Milk Allergy in Children (MILES Study)
Makhija, M. M. (PD/PI), Kumar, R. (Co-Investigator), Pongracic, J. A. (Co-Investigator) & Robison, R. G. (Co-Investigator)
10/1/15 → 8/31/50
Project: Research project
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The Airway Functional Genomics of Bronchodilator Drug Response in Minority Children with Asthma
Kumar, R. (PD/PI)
University of California at San Francisco, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
8/1/19 → 6/30/20
Project: Research project
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Data, Modeling, and Coordination Center for PrecISE Network
Kumar, R. (PD/PI) & Makhija, M. M. (PD/PI)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
7/1/19 → 6/30/21
Project: Research project
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Natural History of Viral Induced Airway Dysfunction and Asthma in Minority Children
Kumar, R. (PD/PI)
University of California San Francisco, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
9/24/18 → 7/31/19
Project: Research project
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Investigations Properties on the Corrosion Inhibition of Kala Bansa Leaf Extract on Mild Steel in an Acidic Environment
Yadav, O. S., Kumar, S., Yadav, K., Sharma, R. & Kumar, R., 2026, In: Portugaliae Electrochimica Acta. 44, 1, p. 27-45 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Dysregulation of airway and systemic interferon responses promotes asthma exacerbations in urban children
Gaberino, C. L., Altman, M. C., Gill, M. A., Bacharier, L. B., Gruchalla, R. S., O'Connor, G. T., Kumar, R., Khurana Hershey, G. K., Kattan, M., Liu, A. H., Teach, S. J., Zoratti, E. M., Becker, P. M., Togias, A., Visness, C., Gern, J. E., Busse, W. W. & Jackson, D. J., May 2025, In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 155, 5, p. 1499-1509 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations -
Whole Blood Transcriptomics Identifies Differences in Innate Immune Pathway Expression in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy
Lang, A., Gadd, S., Gunderman, L., Lippner, E., Devonshire, A., Schipma, M. J., Berdnikovs, S. & Kumar, R., Jan 2025, In: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 55, 1, p. 100-103 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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5-HTP inhibits eosinophilia via intracellular endothelial 5-HTRs; SNPs in 5-HTRs associate with asthmatic lung function
Walker, M. T., Bloodworth, J. C., Kountz, T. S., McCarty, S. L., Green, J. E., Ferrie, R. P., Campbell, J. A., Averill, S. H., Beckman, K. B., Grammer, L. C., Eng, C., Avila, P. C., Farber, H. J., Rodriguez-Cintron, W., Rodriguez-Santana, J. R., Serebrisky, D., Thyne, S. M., Seibold, M. A., Burchard, E. G. & Kumar, R. & 1 others, , 2024, In: Frontiers in Allergy. 5, 1385168.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Scopus citations -
The Association of Periconception Asthma Medication Discontinuation with Adverse Obstetric Outcomes
Rohn, M. C. H., Stevens, D. R., Grobman, W. A., Kumar, R., Chen, Z., Deshane, J., Biggio, J. R., Subramaniam, A., Grantz, K. L., Sherman, S. & Mendola, P., May 28 2024, In: American journal of perinatology. 41, p. E2089-E2097Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Datasets
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Fetal cord blood and tissue immune responses to chronic placental inflammation and chorioamnionitis
Singh, A. M. (Creator), Sherenian, M. G. (Creator), Kim, K.-Y. (Creator), Erickson, K. A. (Creator), Yang, A. (Creator), Mestan, K. (Creator), Ernst, L. M. (Creator) & Kumar, R. (Creator), figshare, 2018
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4305842, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Fetal_cord_blood_and_tissue_immune_responses_to_chronic_placental_inflammation_and_chorioamnionitis/4305842
Dataset
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Correction to: Dual RNA-seq reveals viral infections in asthmatic children without respiratory illness which are associated with changes in the airway transcriptome
Wesolowska-Andersen, A. (Creator), Everman, J. L. (Creator), Davidson, R. (Creator), Rios, C. (Creator), Herrin, R. (Creator), Eng, C. (Creator), Janssen, W. J. (Creator), Liu, A. H. (Creator), Oh, S. S. (Creator), Kumar, R. (Creator), Fingerlin, T. E. (Creator), Rodriguez-Santana, J. (Creator), Burchard, E. G. (Creator) & Seibold, M. A. (Creator), figshare, 2018
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4065521, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Correction_to_Dual_RNA-seq_reveals_viral_infections_in_asthmatic_children_without_respiratory_illness_which_are_associated_with_changes_in_the_airway_transcriptome/4065521
Dataset
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Dual RNA-seq reveals viral infections in asthmatic children without respiratory illness which are associated with changes in the airway transcriptome
Wesolowska-Andersen, A. (Creator), Everman, J. L. (Creator), Davidson, R. (Creator), Rios, C. (Creator), Herrin, R. (Creator), Eng, C. (Creator), Janssen, W. J. (Creator), Liu, A. H. (Creator), Oh, S. S. (Creator), Kumar, R. (Creator), Fingerlin, T. E. (Creator), Rodriguez-Santana, J. (Creator), Burchard, E. G. (Creator) & Seibold, M. A. (Creator), figshare, 2017
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3670105.v1, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Dual_RNA-seq_reveals_viral_infections_in_asthmatic_children_without_respiratory_illness_which_are_associated_with_changes_in_the_airway_transcriptome/3670105/1
Dataset
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Additional file 1: of Correction to: Dual RNA-seq reveals viral infections in asthmatic children without respiratory illness which are associated with changes in the airway transcriptome
Wesolowska-Andersen, A. (Creator), Everman, J. L. (Creator), Davidson, R. (Creator), Rios, C. (Creator), Herrin, R. (Creator), Eng, C. (Creator), Janssen, W. J. (Creator), Liu, A. H. (Creator), Oh, S. S. (Creator), Kumar, R. (Creator), Fingerlin, T. E. (Creator), Rodriguez-Santana, J. (Creator), Burchard, E. G. (Creator) & Seibold, M. A. (Creator), figshare, 2018
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.6125912, https://springernature.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Additional_file_1_of_Correction_to_Dual_RNA-seq_reveals_viral_infections_in_asthmatic_children_without_respiratory_illness_which_are_associated_with_changes_in_the_airway_transcriptome/6125912
Dataset
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Supplemental Material for Mak et al., 2020
Mak, A. C. Y. (Creator), Sajuthi, S. (Contributor), Joo, J. (Contributor), Xiao, S. (Contributor), Sleiman, P. M. (Creator), White, M. J. (Contributor), Lee, E. Y. (Creator), Saef, B. (Creator), Hu, D. (Contributor), Gui, H. (Contributor), Keys, K. L. (Creator), Lurmann, F. (Creator), Jain, D. (Contributor), Abecasis, G. (Contributor), Kang, H. M. (Creator), Nickerson, D. A. (Creator), Germer, S. (Contributor), Zody, M. C. (Creator), Winterkorn, L. (Creator), Reeves, C. (Creator), Huntsman, S. (Creator), Eng, C. (Creator), Salazar, S. (Creator), Oh, S. S. (Creator), Gilliland, F. D. (Creator), Chen, Z. (Contributor), Kumar, R. (Contributor), Martínez, F. D. (Contributor), Wu, A. C. (Creator), Ziv, E. (Creator), Hakonarson, H. (Contributor), Himes, B. E. (Creator), Keoki, W. L. (Contributor), Seibold, M. A. (Creator) & Burchard, E. G. (Creator), GSA Journals, 2020
DOI: 10.25386/genetics.12152196.v1, https://gsajournals.figshare.com/articles/Supplemental_Material_for_Mak_et_al_2020/12152196/1
Dataset