One way the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) works on behalf of the more than 100 million people in the U.S. who have asthma and allergies is through research.
We work with doctors, researchers, patients, caregivers, public health, and government agencies to conduct and support research that is important to people affected by asthma and allergies.
As a person with asthma or allergies or a caregiver, you can get involved in research in different ways. You can have a major impact on asthma and allergy research. Here are some of the ways you can help improve treatments, education, and awareness of asthma and allergies right now:
Surveys
Share Your Experiences Living with Nasal Polyps
AAFA is conducting research to learn more about the experiences of people living with nasal polyps. Your insights will help us guide educational content and programmatic resources around nasal polyps. For less than 15 minutes of your time, you can enter for a chance to get one of 10 $100 gift cards.
Supported by Sanofi and Regeneron
Interviews and Focus Groups
Notice to Adolescents and Parents or Adults with CSU
Evidera, a scientific research company, is working with Global Perspectives, a recruitment company to learn about patient perspectives in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).
You are being asked to participate in a 90-minute web-based telephone interview using Microsoft Teams to better understand experiences of people living with CSU as well as your thoughts about a questionnaire used to collect data from individuals with CSU. The study does not involve treatments; we are only interested in opinions.
As compensation for your time, you will receive $150 USD if you are eligible and complete the 90-minute web-based telephone interview using Microsoft Teams.
If you are interested in more information about this study, do not hesitate to contact Anne Skalicky on our tollfree number: +1 877 390-3525 or Anne.Skalicky@evidera.com.
Asthma and Allergy Clinical Trials
Seeking Volunteers with Asthma for Paid Clinical Trial
Do you or your child have asthma? We are seeking volunteers for a paid, at-home research study that seeks to improve how we treat asthma. The clinical trial will study the effectiveness of a new combination albuterol-budesonide inhaler for the rapid relief of asthma symptoms and daily inflammation.
Sponsored by Science37
Latest Asthma and Allergy Research News
The Pediatric Asthma Risk Score Can Help Predict Asthma Development in Children
The Pediatric Asthma Risk Score (PARS) is a score used to predict early-life asthma. Researchers have confirmed the effectiveness of PARS after validating its use with diverse groups across the United States. The study found that the PARS scoring in the new, diverse groups were similar to old PARS scores, validating previous results. The results could lead to PARS becoming a new tool to predict early asthma risk.
Providing Short-Term Skin Barrier Protection May Help Prevent Atopic Dermatitis in Certain Infants
New research found that certain infants may benefit from the use of a daily specialized moisturizer to reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Infants who can benefit most from this practice have genetic mutations called Loss-of-function (LOF) filaggrin (FLG)-mutations. These are known to be the strongest genetic risk factor for developing eczema. Genetic testing for this mutation could help doctors determine which patients could benefit most from this preventative strategy.
Living Near a Major Road May Be Associated with a Higher Risk of Atopic Dermatitis
Research being presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) shows a link between the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (eczema) and how far a person lives from a major road. The researchers found that children who lived 1,000 meters or more from a major road had 27% lower odds of eczema compared to children who lived within 500 meters of a major road. More research is needed to look at the exact cause of this link.
Infection with COVID-19 Omicron and Delta Variants Is Associated with Higher Prescription Rates of Both Antibiotics and Corticosteroids for Asthmatic Patients
Researchers found prescription rates for corticosteroids and antibiotics increased among asthma patients during the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19. The increased rates during these waves were higher than those during the Alpha wave. Looking at corticosteroid and antibiotic prescriptions can help researchers estimate rates of asthma burden for asthma patients. By comparing rates of use across the three time periods, researchers were able to look at how COVID-19 changed in its impact on people with asthma.
Immunization Stress-Related Response Mimics Vaccine-Induced Anaphylaxis to COVID-19 Vaccines
Allergic reactions to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine have been reported at higher rates than for other vaccines. To look further into this phenomenon, researchers studied the safety of additional COVID-19 vaccinations in patients who experienced an allergic reaction after their first dose. The researchers found that the stress response caused by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine mimics many symptoms of anaphylaxis. Since the symptoms are similar, the real rate of allergic reactions from the COVID-19 vaccine is likely lower than estimated. The researchers stress it is important that doctors are able to recognize the symptoms of stress so they can tell it apart from an allergic reaction following vaccination.
Following Patient Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling, Pharmacy Records Aren’t Always Updated to Reflect Changes
Allergy labeling for patients is often used so doctors and pharmacists are aware of any allergies when prescribing or filling new treatments. If patients test negative for a previous allergy, these labels can be removed from patient records. New research shows that many patients with a penicillin allergy label can safely take penicillin, but even after testing, allergy labels aren’t always being removed from their records at the pharmacy. Some patients were also still avoiding penicillin despite their negative allergy result. More research is needed to look at barriers to completely de-labeling patients who can safely take penicillin.
TEZSPIRE Approved for Self-Administration in the U.S. with a New Pre-Filled Pen
AstraZeneca and Amgen’s TEZSPIRE® (tezepelumab-ekko) has been approved in the U.S. for self-administration in a pre-filled, single-use pen for patients ages 12 years and older with severe asthma. The approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on results from the PATHFINDER clinical trial program, which showed the majority (92%) of health care providers, patients, and caregivers were able to successfully administer TEZSPIRE both in the clinic and at home.
Coming Soon!
Keep an eye out for our upcoming 2023 Allergy Capitals™ report in March.
It is important to stay up to date on news about asthma and allergies. By joining our community and following our blog, you will receive news about research and treatments. Our community also provides an opportunity to connect with other people who manage these conditions for support.
Comments (0)