Overview
The Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center aims to provide the best treatment of allergic disorders and to conduct leading research focused on elucidating the causes, mechanisms and best treatment of allergic and immunological diseases. Patient care activities revolve around the evaluation and treatment of children with asthma, food allergies, eosinophilic disorders, immunodeficiency, and other allergic and/or inflammatory diseases.
The research focus is multidisciplinary and spans fundamental studies, translational investigation and clinical trials. The basic studies are aimed at uncovering the molecular mechanisms (steps) of inflammation, primarily involved in allergic states and those associated with immunodeficiency. Research studies concentrate on uncovering key processes involved in the initiation and propagation of allergic responses in the lung (asthma), skin (eczema), upper respiratory tract (allergic rhinitis), gastrointestinal tract (especially eosinophil associated gastrointestinal disorders), and systemically (anaphylaxis). Molecular pathways involved in macrophage activation syndrome (involving perforin mutations) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (involving IL-5 and activated tyrosine kinases) are primary focus areas.
Integrative laboratories, led by nationally recognized leading researchers, focus on mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes including CD4 effector cells, regulatory T cells, and Th17 cells. Novel models of allergic diseases, developed and/or fine-tuned by divisional researchers, provide unprecedented systems to uncover key inflammatory steps involved in pediatric allergic and immunological disease.
Researchers employ state of the art modeling systems, subjected to genetic, biochemical, immunological, and physiological analysis. Expertise in measuring lung and intestine functional responses in vivo provide valuable experimental approaches. Advances in understanding T cell responses, airway responses to allergen provocation, mechanisms of eosinophil trafficking and recruitment to the lung and gastrointestinal tract as well as genetic pre-disposition toward allergen sensitization and allergic inflammatory response are being made regularly.
Principal Investigators, leading their own team of researchers, work in synergy by sharing a common open laboratory and by participating in weekly research meetings where experimental results and plans are discussed. Researchers conduct studies in collaboration with outstanding researchers locally and internationally.
Clinical research focuses on uncovering clinical, genetic, and therapeutic principles concerning asthma, eosinophilic disorders (e.g. eosinophilic esophagitis and hypereosoinophilic syndrome) and macrophage activation syndrome.
Innovative clinical trials, based on laboratory findings, are highly prioritized.
Mission:
- To provide outstanding clinical care to patients of all backgrounds from all nations.
- To be a major leader in innovative basic and clinical research.
- To translate fundamental basic research to clinical utility.
- To train the next generation of leaders.
Core Diseases:
- Asthma
- Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
- Eczema
- Food Allergy
- Eosinophilic disorders
- Immunodeficiency
- Other - urticaria, drug allergy
Learn more about highlights from the division's research.
Research Highlights
New therapy for blood disorder led by the Division Director, Marc E. Rothernberg, MD, PhD, in the New England Journal of Medicine reporting the utility of a new biological therapy (anti-IL-5) for hypereosinophilic syndromes.
Dr. Simon Hogan’s laboratory recently reported a novel mouse model of oral antigen hypersensitivity allowing him to define an essential role for mast cells and the cytokine interleukin-9 in gastrointestinal allergy. (Forbes, E. E. et al. IL-9- and mast cell-mediated intestinal permeability predisposes to oral antigen hypersensitivity. J. Exp. Med. 31 March 2008)
Food Allergy Program
Our outstanding Food Allergy Program in the Division of Allergy and Immunology is comprised of experienced faculty, nurses and nutritionists. The number of patients seen in the outpatient clinics, with a diagnosis of food allergy, has dramatically increased 10-fold over the past five years from 161 individual patient visits in 2003 to an anticipated 1,686 in 2008.
Learn about the research conducted by the following faculty members:
Marc E. Rothenberg, MD, PhD
Nives Zimmermann, MD
Anil Mishra, PhD
Amal H. Assa'ad, MD
Michelle B. Lierl, MD
J. Pablo Abonia, MD
Simon P. Hogan, MD, PhD
Kimberly A. Risma, MD, PhD
Carine Blanchard, PhD
Li Zuo, MD
Yui-Hsi Wang, MD
For more information about the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, please contact:
Katherine Henderson
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Division of Allergy and Immunology
MLC 7028
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: 513-636-7210
Email: katherine.henderson@cchmc.org
