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Brighton and Sussex Medical School
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Allergies
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£196,185
Professor Somnath Mukhopadhyay and his team at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School are investigating whether inherited factors together with a child’s environment may affect the risk of them developing an allergic disease.
Current situation
It is not known why some children develop allergies whilst others don’t, or how to prevent them. Recent discoveries suggest that some allergies may be caused by a genetic mutation that weakens the skin. The skin normally provides a protective barrier between the outside environment and the inside of the body. This genetic change means substances are more able to pass through the skin and into the body and trigger allergies such as asthma.
Allergies, such as eczema and asthma, often have a detrimental effect on the lives of children. With around 20 per cent of children in the UK affected by allergies, further research is greatly needed to establish the causes and possible treatments.
How this project will help
Professor Mukhopadhyay will study families over several years to determine if genetic factors, passed down through families, together with a child’s environment may increase the risk of them developing an allergic disease. They hope their findings will help develop a simple test that identifies children carrying the skin barrier defect at birth. This will enable doctors to provide children with appropriate treatment from an early age to enhance the skin barrier and prevent the development of an allergy.
This project will increase our understanding of the causes of allergies and may prevent some children developing them in the future.
You can make a difference
Anyone can support Sparks and our vital research. By donating to us monthly, attending one of our events or taking up a challenge, your money will help our researchers find more cures and treatments for children. Get involved today