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AIFA Research Projects

New ideas for new treatments, better diagnosis and better outcomes for people with allergy and other immune disease. Ambitious? Yes.

Projects are awarded AIFA grants after a rigorous selection process, reviewed by a panel of leading experts in allergy and immunology research.

Learn more about projects that have been awarded grants

Prior to AIFA launch research was supported through ASCIA.

  

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AIFA Research Grants 2023

A/Prof Rachel Peters
Preventing childhood food allergy: wave 2 of the EarlyNuts study
AIFA Prof Ann Kupa Food Allergy Research Grant

A/Prof Rachel Peters
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne

Research Team: A/Prof Jennifer Koplin (University of Queensland), Dr Vicki McWilliam (MCRI, Royal Children's Hospital), Dr Victoria Soriano, Prof Mimi Tang and Ms Megan Mathers (MCRI)
Dr Vicki McWilliam
Milk Up Trial: A randomised controlled trial investigating the safety and efficacy of early and graded introduction of milk via a “milk ladder” to accelerate the resolution of IgE mediated cow’s milk allergy
AIFA DBV Technologies Food Allergy Research Grant

Dr Vicki McWilliam
Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne

Research Team: Prof Kirsten Perrett, A/Prof Rachel Peters, and Dr Tim Brettig (MCRI), Dr Joanne Smart (Royal Children's Hospital)

Dr Kuang-Chih Hsiao
Improving the survival and clinical outcomes of patients with IFNAR1 deficiency in Oceania
AIFA CSL Behring Primary Immunodeficiency Clinical Research Grant

Dr Kuang-Chih Hsiao
Starship Children's Hospital, The University of Auckland, New Zealand

Research Team: Dr Maia Brewerton (Auckland City Hospital), Dr Alberto Pinzon Charry (Queensland Children's Hospital), Dr Andrew Wood (Starship Blood and Cancer Centre), Dr See-Tarn Woon (LabPLUS) 

Ms Daniella Ciciulla
Risks of eating disorder development in a national food allergy cohort: The RiskED study
AIFA Early Career Research Grant

Ms Daniela Ciciulla
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne

Research Team: A/Prof Jennifer Koplin (University of Queensland), Dr Vicki McWilliam and A/Prof Rachel Peters (MCRI)

Dr Logan Gardner
Evaluating the role of MRGPRX2 activation in Idiopathic Anaphylaxis
AIFA Early Career Research Grant

Dr Logan Gardner
The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne

Research Team: Dr Priscilla Auyeung, Dr Mark Hew, Dr Celia Zubrinich, and Dr Stephanie Stojanovic (Alfred Health), Dr Graham Mackay (The University of Melbourne)

Dr Adrian Lee
Improving the diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of people with autoantibody-associated systematic autoimmune diseases
AIFA Early Career Research Grant

Dr Adrian Lee
Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney

Research Team: A/Prof Joanne Reed (Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney), Dr Kha Phan (La Trobe University), Dr Jing Jing Wang (Flinders University), A/Prof Ming-Wei Lin (Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital), Prof Tom Gordon (Flinders University, SA Pathology and Flinders Medical Centre)

Dr Alisa Kane
A novel genetic cause of inborn error of immunity – validation and therapeutics
AIFA Early Career Research Grant

Dr Shruti Swamy
Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney

Research Team: A/Prof Elissa Deenick, Prof Tri Phan and Mr Aidan Telfsar (Garvan Institute), Dr Peter Hsu (The Children’s Hospital at Westmead)

AIFA Research Grants 2022

A/Prof Rachel Peters and Dr Melanie Neeland
Immune mechanisms governing the natural resolution of peanut allergy
AIFA Ann Kupa Food Allergy Research Grant

Co-investigators A/Prof Rachel Peters and Dr Melanie Neeland
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne.

A novel approach to diagnose cashew and pistachio allergy using peptide microarray technology
AIFA Research Grant 2022 – supported by DBV Technologies

Dr Brynn Wainstein
Sydney Children’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales

Dr Emily Edwards
Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in immunoglobulin products and their capacity to augment immunity in immunodeficient patients
AIFA Primary Immunodeficiencies Clinical Research Grant - supported by CSL Behring

Dr Emily Edwards
Monash University and the team includes researchers from Alfred Health and the Burnet Institute, with collaboration from the patient organisation AusPIPs and the Australian Red Cross

Dr Alisa Kane
ImPaCT-PID study (Improving Patient Centred Transitional Care in Primary Immunodeficiency)

AIFA Early Career Research Grant 2022

Dr Alisa Kane
St Vincent’s Hospital and will collaborate with the patient organisation Immune Deficiencies Foundation of Australia (IDFA) and colleagues at the University of NSW, the Sydney Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

AIFA Research Grants 2021

Immune mechanisms underpinning remission of allergy

AIFA Research Grant 2021

Professor Mimi Tang
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne.

Investigating impaired T cell activation in children with food allergy
AIFA Research Grant 2021 – supported by DBV Technologies

Dr Peter Hsu
Children's Hospital at Westmead

Investigating T follicular cell numbers and neuritin levels in patients with food allergy
AIFA Kohen and Sage Richards Research Grant 2021

A/Professor Katrina Randall
The Canberra Hospital/ANU Medical School

SARS CoV2 infection and vaccination in inborn errors of immunity

AIFA Research Grant 2021 – supported by CSL Behring

Professor Stuart Tangye
Garvan Institute of Medical Research

Harnessing primary immunodeficiencies to understand and treat human allergic disease
AIFA Research Grant 2021

A/Professor Cindy Ma
Garvan Institute of Medical Research

 AIFA Research Grants 2020

Eradicating food allergy in children
AIFA Research Grant 2020

A/Prof Kirsten Perrett
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne.

Low dose Multi-Nut Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) in Preschoolers (LMNOP) Pilot Study

A novel diagnosis for drug allergy
AIFA Research Grant 2020

Dr Catarina Almeida
The University of Melbourne

Altered self-reactivity of CD1d-lipid restricted “Natural Killer T cells” by sulfa-like drugs

Identify unmet needs of HAE
AIFA Research Grant 2020 – supported by CSL Behring

Dr William Smith
The Royal Adelaide Hospital

A state-wide survey of patients with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) in South Australia

Improving the treatment of patients with specific antibody deficiency
AIFA Research Grant 2020 – supported by CSL Behring

Dr Celina Jin
The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Evaluating Vi-polysaccharide vaccine responses in specific antibody deficiency patients receiving immunoglobulin replacement.

Prevent the development of cow’s milk allergy in children
AIFA Research Grant 2020 – supported by DBV Technologies

Dr Vicki McWilliam
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne.

The feasibility of a “milk ladder” approach for the introduction of cow’s milk to infants with mild-moderate IgE mediated cow’s milk allergy - a pilot study

 AIFA Research Grants 2019

Food Allergy and MAIT cells
AIFA Research Grant 2019

Dr Sidonia Eckle’s research aims to determine if mucosal-associated invariant T cells mediate food allergies.

Vitamin D and Food Allergy
AIFA Research Grant 2019 - supported by DBV Technologies

Dr Rachel Peters is researching if resolution of vitamin D deficiency predicts resolution of food allergy in infants.

Severe Drug Allergy Register
AIFA Research Grant 2019

Dr Jason Trubiano’s team aims to study high risk drug allergies by building a special registry called AUS-SCAR.

Improved Diagnosis of PID
AIFA Research Grant 2019 – supported by CSL Behring

Dr Tri Phan’s research will utilise machine-based learning to improve the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency.

Next generation sequencing in HAE
AIFA Research Grant 2019 – supported by CSL Behring

Dr Samantha Chan’s research aims to improve the utility of next-generation sequencing in Hereditary Angioedema.

AIFA Research Grants 2014-18

Allergic Asthma
AIFA Research Grant 2018

Dr Ullah, a respiratory immunologist, is investigating the consequences of allergen exposure in the lungs and the processes that predispose to allergic sensitisation.

Munoz  Group on Childhood Autoinflammatory Disease
Autoinflammatory Disease
AIFA Research Grant 2017

Dr Marcia Munoz is undertaking research that could lead to a new treatment for MKD that could revolutionise the lives of children and adults with the disease.

Jack Jumper Ant Allergy
AIFA Research Grant 2016

Dr Pravin Hissaria’s team is assessing whether treatment for allergic reactions to Jack Jumper Ant stings, a uniquely Australian problem, is effective.

Drug Screening Tool
AIFA Research Grant 2016
Dr Ben Roediger is developing a tool for allergy screening that will improve drug development for highly targeted drugs for sufferers of allergic disease.
Understanding FPIES
AIFA Research Grants 2015

Dr Sam Mehr’s research involves gaining a better understanding of what genes are switched on in Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) reaction.

Development of the immune system
AIFA Research Grant 2015

Dr Peter Hsu is studying how the regulatory part of the immune system develops in healthy children, to research how this may be disturbed in children with allergies.

Pollen Allergen Partnership
AIFA Research Grants 2014

A/Prof Janet Davies is establishing Australia's first national standardised pollen monitoring program for reliable forecasts of allergenic pollen counts.

Predicting Shellfish Allergy
AIFA Research Grants 2014

Dr Sandip Kamath is researching the cross reactivity of house dust mite allergy and shellfish allergy in children to try to develop a predictive tool.

ASCIA Research Grants 2004-2009

2009 ASCIA Research Grants

Supported by SCHERING PLOUGH: 

  • Dr Janet Davies and Prof John Upham, QLD: Allergy to subtropical grass pollens in Australia; IgE cross-reactivity between subtropical and temperate grass pollens
  • A/Prof Campbell Witt, Prof Patrick Holt and Prof Frank Christiansen, WA: Replication study of genetic predisposition of KIR2DL4 alleles to asthma
2008 ASCIA Research Grants

Supported by GSK:

  • Dr Tiffany Hughes, WA: Australian Pollen Immunotherapy study
  • Dr Euan Tovey and Dr Janet Rimmer, NSW: Purchase of a TSI 8220 Particle Counter to measure exposure to allergens during sleep
2007 ASCIA Research Grants
  • Dr Christine Bundell et al, WA: Evaluation of patient antibody responses to beta2microglobulin in relation to lupus anticoagulant and anti-cardiolipin results 
  • Dr Rob Stirling et al, VIC: The impact of cofactor and effector cell function in CVID
  • Prof Philip Thompson et al, WA: Effects of statins on the migration and apoptosis of dendritic cells

Supported by CSL:

  • A/Prof Rohan Ameratunga et al, NZ: Establishment of a national food allergy database
  • Prof Simon Brown et al, WA: A study of the use of Intravenous promethazine for anaphylaxis
  • A/Prof Pete Smith, QLD: Identification of patients with 18Q21.3 deletions and anaphylaxis
2006 ASCIA Research Grants
  • A/Prof Rohan Ameratunga et al, NZ: Identification of novel gene defects in Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID): a multi-centre study
  • Dr Matthew Cook et al, ACT: Antibody Deficiency Allele (ADA) Pilot Study
  • Dr Marianne Empson, Dr Penny Fitzharris and Dr Jan Sinclair, NZ: Fatal anaphylaxis in New Zealand: case finding for the decade 1995-2004 (seed funding)
  • Dr Sean Riminton and Philippa Kirkpatrick, NSW: ASCIA PID Register (3rd year of 3 year seed funding)
  • Dr Brynn Wainstein, A/Prof John Ziegler, NSW: Evaluation of the risk of anaphylaxis in currently and previously peanut allergic children advised to avoid peanut vs those advised to regularly consume peanut
2005 ASCIA Research Grants
  • Prof Simon Brown, WA: Establishing a diagnostic framework for anaphylaxis to native Australian ant venoms (continuation)
  • Prof Connie Katelaris and Dr Janet Rimmer, NSW: Application to ASCIA to fund the purchase, establishment and validation of a novel device (Rhinolux) to non-invasively measure nasal congestion
  • A/Prof Jo Douglass et al, VIC: A qualitative study of the needs of individuals with primary immunodeficiency disorders in transition from paediatric to adult care 
  • Dr Rob Loblay, NSW and Dr Mike Gold, SA: Establishment of an ASCIA Anaphylaxis Registry (seed funding)
  • Dr Sean Riminton and Philippa Kirkpatrick, NSW: ASCIA PID Register (2nd year of seed funding)
2004 ASCIA Research Grants
  • Prof Simon Brown, WA: Establishing a diagnostic framework for anaphylaxis to native Australian ant venoms 
  • Dr Sean Riminton, NSW: ASCIA PID Register (seed funding)

AIFA Latest News

  • Thank you and best wishes for the Festive Season
    Thank you and best wishes for the Festive Season
    20 December 2023:  Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia (AIFA) grants give teams of researchers the opportunity to progress their original ideas to find out more about immune system disorders. This work leads to improved diagnosis and treatment of allergic, immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases. Thank you to our generous donors and sponsors, who provide support for allergy and...
  • AIFA announces grant recipients for 2023
    AIFA announces grant recipients for 2023
    The Chair of the Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia, Dr Melanie Wong, announced the recipients of the AIFA grants for 2023 at the ASCIA Conference in September. AIFA Professor Ann Kupa Food Allergy Research Grant to Chief Investigator A/Prof Rachel Peters at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne for the project “Preventing childhood food allergy: wave 2 of the...
  • AIFA grant recipients will be announced 6 September 2023
    AIFA grant recipients will be announced 6 September 2023
    11 August 2023:  The AIFA Chair, Dr Melanie Wong, will announce AIFA grant recipients at the 33rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) at the International Conference Centre, Sydney, on Wednesday 6 September 2023. Chief Investigators of projects funded by AIFA in 2021 will present their research results at the AIFA Research Symposium on 6 September...
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