More Canadians than ever before are suffering from allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and food allergies. Allergic diseases cause over $600 million per year of lost productivity in North America alone. The link between risk factors and environmental stimuli—such as indoor air, atmospheric pollution and climate change—that may increase the severity and consequences of allergic illnesses is not clearly understood.

AllerGen's research program includes three results-oriented thrusts: gene/environment interactions; diagnostics and therapeutics; and public health, ethics, policy and society. In addition, the network is spearheading a national birth cohort study, the results of which will have the potential to address all aspects of diagnosis, treatment and policy for allergic/immune and other chronic diseases.

AllerGen collaborates with the academic community and public and private sector partners to create knowledge about the causes of allergic and immune disease and asthma; trains highly qualified researchers and health care professionals; and supports studies leading to new drugs and treatments. AllerGen's research also aims to improve disease prevention and control strategies and to inform public policy decisions.

Researchers are studying genes linked to allergic/immune disease and asthma, and how environmental triggers affect people who have these diseases. Researchers are developing a tool—the AllerChip—to rapidly identify these genes in a clinical setting. Results of this research will improve the way allergies are diagnosed and patients are treated. It will also influence how policy makers handle decisions on public health.

Another AllerGen project looks at the development and prevalence of peanut allergy, and the psychosocial impact of this allergy on children and their families. The study will show whether more children are developing this allergy and how it affects their quality of life. Project results will help to guide officials when considering legislation to restrict allergen exposure in schools and workplaces, and will lead to more effective management practices targeted specifically at children and teenagers.

Researchers have developed a Financial Barrier Risk Index that illustrates the effects of financial barriers, such as the lack of a drug plan or low socioeconomic status, on 900 asthmatic children. Such factors have been shown to directly affect health, so identifying children at risk will allow health-care providers to create prevention strategies that take into account the financial barriers faced by families.

AllerGen investigators are examining the effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution on asthma. Using the only facility in Canada to test real-world pollution on human subjects, they are obtaining evidence-based results to inform decisions around air quality and pollution emissions.

AllerGen has established a national clinical trials consortium called the Clinical Investigator Collaborative (CIC). It consists of five research centres that are evaluating how well new molecules treat inflammation in people's breathing passages while simultaneously studying the mechanics of allergic disease. So far, six industrial partners—MedImmune Inc., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, IVAX Research, Topigen Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim—have used the services offered by the CIC. The consortium's industry partnerships enable the CIC to be a self-supporting Network program.

AllerGen is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people suffering from allergic and related immune diseases. The Network is funding leading edge research that promotes collaborations between basic, clinical and social scientists, allowing investigators to look at more complex, real-world challenges. Although the prevalence of allergic diseases is rising, only one allergy and immune disease specialist is available for every 247,863 Canadians. The Network is hoping to alleviate that shortage by creating new opportunities for training highly qualified entrepreneurial personnel, encouraging young professionals to consider a career in allergic disease research and related clinical practice.

Allergy, Genes and Environment Network - AllerGen (2004-2012)
Focus:	To catalyze and support discovery, development, networking, capacity building, commercialization and knowledge translation to reduce the burden of allergic and related immune diseases.
Funding:	$37.84 million for entire funding period
Strength:	34 researchers and 74 Highly Qualified Personnel
Partnership Power:	122 industry, public service and academic partners
Scientific Director and CEO:	Dr. Judah Denburg
Web site:	www.allergen-nce.ca