FARE to Co-Sponsor Half-Million Dollar Food Allergy Research Grant
Grant will focus on identifying, validating food allergy biomarkers that impact food allergy research, from predictions to monitoring and beyond
McLean, Va. (January 7, 2020) – Today, the world’s largest private funder of food allergy research, announced it will co-sponsor a $500 thousand Biomarker Research Grant with Janssen’s World Without Disease Accelerator*, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The Biomarker Research Grant is focused on identifying and validating novel food allergy biomarkers that will impact many aspects of food allergy research, from predictions to monitoring and beyond.
“The Biomarker Research Grant not only supports FARE’s goal to better understand the food allergy epidemic but will also aide us in hopefully identifying new and promising treatments and, eventually, finding a cure,” said Lisa Gable, chief executive officer of FARE. “We are proud to work with Janssen on this initiative and look forward to our collaborative effort working towards changing the face of food allergy research.”
Biomarker research has the potential to make a real and significant impact for the 32 million Americans living with food allergies. Currently, patients with food allergies have limited access to treatment options and must be constantly diligent to avoid their allergens and, in the event of accidental exposure, administer epinephrine and quickly visit the emergency room. According to recent FARE-supported research, medical claims with diagnoses of life-threatening anaphylactic food reactions rose nearly 400 percent nationwide between 2007 and 2016.
The Biomarker Research Grant is aimed at addressing early childhood medical conditions to encourage healthy development, while preventing and intercepting chronic diseases, a focus of FARE and Janssen’s World Without Disease Accelerator group. Childhood-onset food allergy, a complex disease involving multiple body systems, still requires much more research to fully understand its root causes. Such research will accelerate innovation in food allergy treatment, whether by prevention to stop disease onset, interception to arrest disease development, or with a cure to eliminate food allergy completely and restore health.
FARE will contribute $250,000 with Janssen matching to bring the total investment to a half-million dollars. FARE will be launching a formal request for applications (RFA) to the Biomarker Research Grant in early 2020.
*The legal entity to the agreement with FARE is Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
Media Contact:
About FARE
FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is the leading nonprofit organization that empowers the food allergy patient across the journey of managing their disease. FARE delivers innovation by focusing on three strategic pillars—advocacy, research, and education—united by the through line of health equity. FARE’s initiatives accelerate the future of food allergy through effective policies and legislation, novel strategies toward prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and building awareness and community. For more information, visit FoodAllergy.org.