How far have we come? A progress report for AIFA 2014-2020
29 January 2021:
The Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA) is the only Australasian charity that is specifically funding allergy and immunology research.
AIFA is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the human immune system. We are supporting innovative research for improved diagnosis, novel treatments and better health outcomes for people with allergy and other immune disease. We are encouraging early career researchers with projects that have the potential to translate to progress in clinical care.
How many AIFA research grants have been awarded?
Since 2014, when we began our grant process, AIFA has funded a total of 18 medical research projects, across 12 research institutions in four regions of Australia. Projects were awarded AIFA grants after a rigorous selection process, reviewed by a panel of leading experts in allergy and immunology research.
What is the unmet need for more allergy and immunology research?
Whilst we are proud of our growing achievement, the last six years have proven that there is unmet need for more research into allergy and other immune diseases that may lead to the improved diagnosis or treatment:
- AIFA has received 132 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) since 2014. This has amounted to $3,675,000 in funds requested.
- AIFA has awarded a total of $390,000 in grants. This is 10.6% of research grant funding that has been requested through our grant program.
How can you help us move allergy and immunology research forward?
The high quality of medical care we enjoy today is built upon years of medical research. By donating to AIFA you can help to advance medical knowledge, improve patient care and save lives.
You can become a community fundraiser or donate at www.allergyimmunology.org.au/donate
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We have come a long way but we have only just started the journey to fill the unmet need for research into allergy and immunology in Australia and New Zealand.
The AIFA Food Allergy Research Grant of $40,000 was awarded to A/Prof Kirsten Perrett for testing the effectiveness of oral immunotherapy for young children with nut allergy. Her “Low dose Multi-Nut OIT in Preschoolers (LMNOP) Pilot Study” is the first step toward achieving the vision of eradicating food allergy before school age. A/Prof Perrett works at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne. 
Dr Vicki McWilliam, who also works at MCRI, was awarded the AIFA Food Allergy Research Grant (supported by DBV Technologies) of $10,000. Her project “Is early introduction of milk via a slow and graded milk ladder approach feasible and acceptable for infants with mild/moderate cow’s milk allergy?” has the potential to prevent the development of long-term cow’s milk allergy in children. 
AIFA awarded a grant of $30,000 to Dr Catarina Dos Santos Sa E Almeida at the University of Melbourne who will work with Dr Jason Trubiano at Austin Health to study “Altered self-reactivity of CD1d-lipid restricted NKT cells by sulfa-like drugs”. This could lead to the improvement of current tests for drug allergy, policy for drug administration, and the development of new immune-based therapies. 
The AIFA Primary Immunodeficiencies Clinical Research Grant of $15,000 (supported by CSL Behring) will be awarded to Dr Celina Jin at The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Dr Jin will be evaluating how specific antibody deficiency patients (who have impaired immune function) receiving immunoglobulin replacement react to a typhoid vaccine (Vi-polysaccharide vaccine). 
Dr William Smith was awarded the AIFA Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) Clinical Research Grant of $15,000 (supported by CSL Behring). Dr Smith, who is based at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, will conduct a state-wide survey of patients with HAE in South Australia. This will determine the prevalence of HAE as well as severity, impact on quality of life, and unmet needs, particularly in the prevention of angioedema attacks. 
For the third time since the Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA) started funding research grants in 2015, we are proud to announce that an AIFA grant recipient has received National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
In recognition that many potential AIFA grant applicants have less discretionary time in 2020 due to the demands from COVID-19, the AIFA grant EOI deadline (previously 15 April 2020) has been deferred.
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has developed information and guidance regarding COVID-19.