Recipients selected for their innovative approaches to repurpose an existing FDA-approved drug for the prevention and treatment of food allergies

The Food Allergy Fund, the leading nonprofit committed to bridging the funding gap for scientific research into food allergies, announced the recipients of the first Repurposing Innovators Research Grant for food allergies. The grant winners are Dr. Nicole Ramsey and Dr. Maria Lafaille of Mount Sinai, and Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth and Dr. Adam Williams at Northwestern. They were selected for their innovative approaches to repurposing an existing FDA-approved drug to prevent and treat allergies.

“As the only food allergy organization focused on this model to study, refine and harness the power of FDA-approved drugs, we have set a precedent and will continue to accelerate innovation to end allergic diseases,” said Ilana Golant, founder and CEO of the Food Allergy Fund.

Watch the presentations at the links below to learn more about the groundbreaking projects to reduce reaction risk and severity and ultimately prevent anaphylaxis.

  • Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth
  • Dr. Nicole Ramsey

Food allergies are a pressing public health crisis. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics revealed that nearly one-third of U.S. adults and over one-fourth of U.S. children reported experiencing seasonal allergies, eczema, or food allergies. Additionally, approximately six percent of both U.S. adults and children have food allergies, underscoring the need for groundbreaking solutions.

The Food Allergy Fund’s Scientific Advisory Board, which includes immunologists, clinicians, microbiologists, gastroenterologists, and chemical engineers from Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, Stanford, and Yale, brings a comprehensive perspective on research. The complete list of Board members can be found at https://foodallergyfund.org/scientific-advisory-board.

The Food Allergy Fund is the leading nonprofit dedicated to funding food allergy research. FAF aims to identify underlying causes, discover new therapeutics, and improve the lives of all people living with food allergies. Through our groundbreaking research and unique thought leadership summits, we accelerate innovation to find solutions. To learn more, visit www.foodallergyfund.org.

press@foodallergyfund.org