AllerGen - Allergy, Genes and Environment Network

www.allergen-nce.ca

The incidence of allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and food allergies has reached unprecedented levels in Canada and the Western world. The economic impact of these disorders on performance at school or in the workplace is significant and growing. Allergies and asthma cause more than $600 million per year of lost productivity in North America. Medical care for the more than five million North American children with asthma costs more than $5 billion. As well, more needs to be understood about the interplay between allergy risk factors and other environmental stimuli such as atmospheric pollution, which may increase the severity and consequences of asthma and other allergic illnesses.

AllerGen aims to radically improve the quality of life for allergic/immune disease sufferers by conducting research that leads to new diagnostic tests, better medications and more effective public policies. The Network's goals are: a) to support research into the causes of allergic/immune diseases; b) to promote the development of new bio-molecular research-based platforms, tools and processes; c) to promote the development of new products and services for allergic/immune diseases and related disease management; d) to contribute to the advancement of professional and lay knowledge about allergic/immune diseases; and e) to support the development of highly qualified Canadian personnel in allergic/immune disease research, innovation and health care.

AllerGen's research program is grouped into five thematic areas. The Genes & Early Life Determinants theme examines the interaction of early life events and environmental exposures with the genes that may impart susceptibility to allergies. Environments, Populations & Society focuses on the environment proper (the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe) and its effects on mothers and their infants, families and special Canadian populations, including our Aboriginal communities. Research in the Mechanisms & Biomarkers theme will investigate biological mechanisms to aid the development of new diagnostic aids. The Therapeutics & Drug Discovery theme will contribute to unique therapeutic and drug discovery programs, partnering with the biopharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. The Prevention, Control and Public Policy theme will integrate knowledge of allergies, especially in schools and the workplace, towards the development of specific preventive and control measures, leading to significant public policy debate and change.

The Network's innovative, interdisciplinary research program involves academic, public and private sector research partners with wide-ranging expertise and is aimed at understanding both the physiological and psychosocial aspects of allergic/immune diseases.

Through research on the genetic, psychosocial, environmental and economic aspects of allergic disease, new knowledge will be quickly transformed into innovative products and services, and will help health workers educate the public.

Canadians are drastically underserved when it comes to access to medical care for allergic diseases. AllerGen aims to help address the alarming shortage of allergists and allergic disease researchers by creating 100 new research trainee positions, and doubling the number of highly qualified clinical specialists and research scientists currently in the field.

Provincial Reach:

Click on image for bigger view

Distribution of Research Personnel and Partners

The Network will start to receive its NCE grant on April 1, 2005; therefore, the table below showing researchers regional distribution represents researchers who might be interested in participating in the Network. The Network will issue a call for proposal to researchers when it starts to receive its NCE grant.

For more information visit AllerGen's website.