Abstract
This article explores the multifaceted approach of food allergy (FA) advocacy, research, and education to address the diverse challenges associated with FA, such as disparities in socioeconomic status, food security, quality of life, and the overall burden of the disease. Advocacy initiatives are instrumental in driving policy changes, raising public awareness, and directing substantial research funding, with a focus on reducing disparities. They have influenced allergen labeling regulations and improved access to epinephrine, emphasizing the importance of school-based management plans, especially in underserved communities. Research in FA informs medical practices and offers them hope for improved treatments. Recent breakthroughs in peanut allergy prevention and oral immunotherapy trials exemplify the potential for advancements while highlighting the need to address disparities in health care access. Education is a critical tool for prevention, raising awareness, and reducing the risk of allergic reactions. Efforts should be tailored to reach marginalized communities, particularly in schools where education on FA management is essential. Collaborating directly with communities is imperative to ensure inclusivity and address disparities. Barriers such as mistrust, language and cultural differences, and lack of diversity among researchers must be overcome to encourage diverse participation in research studies. This article concludes by emphasizing the significance of a comprehensive approach to FA research that prioritizes equity and inclusivity. The call to action highlights the need for global initiatives to reshape the landscape of FA care and address disparities in health care access and outcomes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 310-315 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2024 |
Funding
Conflicts of interest: M. Ebisawa has received honoraria from Mylan (now Viatris, Inc) and ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J. Wang received research support paid to the institution from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Aimmune, DBV Technologies, and Siolta; consultancy fees from ALK Abello and Jubilant HollisterStier; and royalty payments from UpToDate. R. Gupta receives research support from the National Institutes of Health (Grants R21 AI135705, R01 AI130348, and U01 AI138907), FARE, the Melchiorre Family Foundation, the Sunshine Charitable Foundation, the Walder Foundation, the UnitedHealth Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Genentech. She serves as a medical consultant/advisor for Genentech, Novartis, Aimmune LLC, Allergenis LLC, and FARE. She has ownership interest in Yobee Care, Inc. C.M. Davis received research funding from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (Consortium of Food Allergy Research (Grants UM2 AI130836/U01 AI126614)/Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Researchers), DBV Technologies, Aimmune Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Allergenis. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest: M. Ebisawa has received honoraria from Mylan (now Viatris, Inc) and ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. J. Wang received research support paid to the institution from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Aimmune, DBV Technologies, and Siolta; consultancy fees from ALK Abello and Jubilant HollisterStier; and royalty payments from UpToDate. R. Gupta receives research support from the National Institutes of Health (Grants R21 AI135705 , R01 AI130348 , and U01 AI138907 ), FARE , the Melchiorre Family Foundation , the Sunshine Charitable Foundation , the Walder Foundation , the UnitedHealth Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Genentech. She serves as a medical consultant/advisor for Genentech, Novartis, Aimmune LLC, Allergenis LLC, and FARE. She has ownership interest in Yobee Care, Inc. C.M. Davis received research funding from the National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (Consortium of Food Allergy Research (Grants UM2 AI130836/U01 AI126614)/Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Researchers), DBV Technologies, Aimmune Therapeutics, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Allergenis. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.
Keywords
- Advocacy
- Community
- Disparities
- Education
- Food allergy
- Research
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
