The Food Allergy Institute model harnesses the synergy of clinical therapeutics, research, and advocacy — three pillars in healthcare — under one roof. The emphasis on large quantities of data — or “big data” — within an integrated model that resulted in the Tolerance Induction Program and its unprecedented results has tremendous application for each patient that we treat. Each of our patients undergoes 300 or more diagnostic biomarker tests. This data is reflective of their immune system from the bone marrow to the gastrointestinal tract. We utilize this data to extrapolate novel findings and study them in the clinical food allergy world. This approach aids in creating the best diagnostics and treatment modalities possible in food allergy. Additionally, the long-term follow-up of patients involving the standardization of biomarkers will be critical to the lifelong treatment outcomes of food allergy patients.
Much of the world of food allergy diagnostics remains undiscovered. Our goal is to utilize the trillions of data points aggregated in unique data loop formats to design and study food proteins against the allergic person’s immune system. For example, the allergens in the pecan nut are largely not understood. Our lab focuses on understanding which proteins in pecan are associated with the activity and the sensitization of the allergic immune system.
As a long-term treatment and research model, the Food Allergy Institute facilities house a PhD research team and a science laboratory that studies blood and immune cells to better understand how we can safely speed up the treatment process. Our model actively treats children with food allergies today, while providing our research team with the data to advance even further the food allergy treatment cause for all children.