Allergy and Immunology Research
When you support medical research, you are helping to build the future of medicine, to advance medical knowledge, improve patient care and save lives.
The high quality of medical care we enjoy today is built upon years of medical research. This research has investigated causes, potential treatments and prevention of disease. Medical research has resulted in breakthrough treatments and prevention of previously life threatening diseases.
However, there is still so much work to be done, particularly for immune system disorders like allergies, immunodeficiencies and other immune diseases.
AIFA offers many ways you can support medical research into immune system disorders and 100% of your donation goes towards AIFA research grants. For information about research funded by AIFA grants go to www.allergyimmunology.org.au/projects
This page includes an alphabetical listing of current allergy and immunology research projects in Australia and New Zealand in addition to those supported by AIFA.
AADRY - Australian Autoinflammatory Diseases RegistrY Study
The Australian Autoinflammatory Diseases RegistrY (AADRY) study, coordinated through the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) aims to establish a national registry of patients with suspected and confirmed monogenic autoinflammatory diseases, and to provide whole exome sequencing and immunological evaluation of novel variants as an investigative tool for patients who have an autoinflammatory phenotype but remain without a genetic diagnosis. If you are caring for a patient that you suspect has an autoinflammatory disease or for one with a confirmed diagnosis, please contact
ANZADA - Australia and New Zealand Antibody Deficiency Allele Study
ANZADA is a national collaborative research project supported by the NHMRC that aims to identify the cellular and genetic causes of antibody deficiency diseases, including CVID, IgA deficiency, and specific antibody deficiency. The study is recruiting patients of any age with any of these disorders. For more information email
Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit Study Protocol for Eosinphilic Eosophagitis (EoE)
The study seeks to capture the current spectrum of clinical practice for the treatment of EoE and use this data to advocate for high quality Australian based trials and an evidence based approach to the management of paediatric EoE. For more information www.apsu.org.au
BEAT - Beating Egg Allergy Trial
The BEAT trial is investigating the effect of early introduction of egg into the diet of infants at high risk for atopy and subsequent egg allergy. For more information email
Centre for Food & Allergy Research (CFAR)
A collaborative group of Australian allergy researchers are involved in an NHMRC funded national Centre for Food & Allergy Research (CFAR), which aims to curb the food allergy epidemic. For more information email
Centre for Personalised Medicine (CPI) Research Program
The Centre for Personalised Immunology (CPI) research program is a national collaborative research project supported by the NHMRC. It aims to identify the cellular and genetic causes of autoimmune and auto-inflammatory diseases. The study is recruiting patients and families of any age with any of a broad range of the constellation of diseases that fall within these parameters. For more information email
CVID Study
This study aims to find the cause of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and is being conducted by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. If you are aged between 18 and 80 and have been diagnosed with CVID or XLA, you are eligible to participate. For more information go to www.wehi.edu.au/PIDdonor
DOMInO 6 (DHA to Optimise Maternal and Infant Outcomes 6 year follow up study)
This is a 6 year follow up of children born to mothers in the DOMInO study, a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of maternal supplementation with omega-3 long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in pregnancy on clinical outcomes of allergic disease in the child. For more information email
Immune milk proteins for the treatment of eczema
Immune proteins in milk have shown promise in pre-clinical studies to improve the symptoms of eczema. The aim of this study being run at the St George Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centre in Sydney is to determine if enriched milk proteins taken as a supplement for 8 weeks reduce the severity of eczema symptoms. The study is now recruiting participants with eczema. For more information email
Oral peanut immunotherapy with modified dietary starch adjuvant (OPIA) trial
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (CHW) OPIA research team is recruiting for an oral peanut immunotherapy (OIT) trial for children with a diagnosed peanut allergy aged 10-16 years, who are able to travel to CHW every 2-3 weeks. This trial focuses on using small doses of peanut with a dietary fibre supplement to train the body to become tolerant to peanut. The dietary supplement of high-amylase maize starch with a short chain fatty acid is called butyrate. Developed by the CSIRO, it is easily mixed into a range of foods. The duration of the study for most participants will be measured over one year.
Please visit www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/research/clinical-trials/peanut-allergy-trial to obtain information packs for eligible patients. If you have any questions please email the OPIA research team
TiARA - Tick induced Allergies Research and Awareness
This research and educational fund has been established at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW. For more information email