Allergy and Immunology
News, Education and Events

Recent News on Allergies and Immunologic Disorders

The following outside resources contain helpful information for families and healthcare professionals facing allergy- and immunology-related disorders. Cincinnati Children’s also provides further information on advocacy.

Info on COVID-19

Get updated information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it affects patients with allergy / asthma conditions. Read more

In the News

December 14

How Common are Penicillin Allergies? CDC Says "True Penicillin Allergy" is Rare.

December 1

Why Your Child Most Likely Does Not Have A Penicillin Allergy

October 30

Eosinophilic Esophagitis Risk Linked to Medications in Pregnancy, Infancy

October 4

CEGIR: Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility in Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Research

September 21

Profiling the Liver’s Frontline Defender

September 20

Takeda Announces FDA Acceptance of NDA Resubmission of TAK-721 (budesonide oral suspension) for the Short-Term Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) "This is an exciting step forward and shows the impact that our collective voices and partnership can have. I am optimistic about the outcome." ~Marc Rothenberg

September 12

TSLP Inhibitors Emerge as Potential Therapy for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

August

Arnold Strauss Research Fellowship: Mario Ynga Durand, MD, PhD

August 31

After 1 Year, Weekly Doses of Dupilumab Most Effective at Managing Eosinophilic Esophagitis 

August 10

The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology interviewed Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD about the recent findings regarding benralizumab for eosinophilic gastritis.

June 16

Wider Search Needed to Better Treat Eosinophilic Food Allergy

June 16

Benralizumab for eosinophilic gastritis: a single-site, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial

June 13

Pew Latin American Fellow: Mario Alberto Ynga Durand

May 17

FARE Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Council

May

Marc Rothenberg Earns UC College of Medicine’s Top Award

May 11

Curiosity Drives Drake Medal Winner Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD

April

Consult on Antibiotic Associated Rashes

February 28

Eliminating Just One Food Trigger Can Improve Life for People With EoE

February 27

Bringing Dietary Therapy for Eosinophilic Oesophagitis Under Scientific Scrutiny

February 27

Milk Elimination Diet Shows Promise as First-Line Therapy for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

February 27

NIH News Release: Forgoing one food treats eosinophilic esophagitis as well as excluding six: NIH grantees report results of first multi-site randomized trial comparing the two diets.

February 24

CEGIR’s Marc Rothenberg Receives AAAAI 2023 Distinguished Scientist Award

February 14

2022 Research Highlight Videos: Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children's

January 20

Characterizing Eosinophilic Duodenitis

January 20

Clinical Trial Research Participation: a few words from Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD

December 22

Biological Agent Successfully Treats Eosinophilic Esophagitis

December 22

Dupilumab improves eosinophilic esophagitis outcomes through 52 weeks

November 16

Mel Mingler, MS, MBA Named A “Future of the Field” b the Society of Research Administrators International

November 16

Tetsuo Shoda, MD, PhD Receives Trustee Award for his outstanding proposal entitled “Role of RhoA GTPase Pathway in Eosinophilic Esophagitis”.

November 14

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID): Clinical Trial Update In View of Recent 2022 Data

October 25

Update on the MESSINA Phase III trial for Fasenra in eosinophilic esophagitis

October 20

Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Rothenberg named to National Academy of Medicine

October 17

Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD Elected to National Academy of Medicine

October 14

Food Allergies Oral Immunotherapy Treatment Teal Pumpkin Campaign and More

September

2023 AAAAI Honorary Award Recipient of Distinguished Scientist Award: Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD

September 15

First FDA-Approved Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis Has Roots in NIAID-Funded Research

September 14

Marc Rothenberg, MD - Stephen I. Wasserman Lecture: Journey to the First FDA-Approved Drug

September 9

Kevin Titus, MBA Receives Hartford-Nicholsen Award from the Society of Research Administrators International (SRAI)

August 31

Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders at Cincinnati Children's

August 11

Pollution to pollen, floods to fires: how does climate change affect children with sensitive skin? (Episode 23)

August 5

The Beginning of a New Medication From Recognizing a Need to FDA Approval: Dr. Rothenberg on the Young and Healthy Podcast

August 2

Vitamin D Supplementation Alleviates IL-13–Induced Esophageal Inflammation

August 1

Cincinnati Children's - Bridge to Next-Gen Medicine Collaboration Selects 4 Projects for Pilot Funding

July 25

Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms may benefit from gastric emptying studies

July 14

Dupixent® (Dupilumab) Phase 3 Trial Shows Positive Results in Children 1-11 Years of Age With Eosinophilic Esophagitis

July 13

Marc Rothenberg selected as the 2023 recipient of the AAAAI Distinguished Scientist Award

July 8

New Treatment Gives Hope to Those with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

July 7

Journal Devotes Cover to Eosinophilic Esophagitis Research

July 6

CEGIR: Online Communities Illuminate Needs and Goals of Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

June 27

Development of Outcome Metrics Leads to First FDA-Approved Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

June 15

FARE 10 for 10: Amal Assa'ad

June 10

Young and Healthy Podcast: 2022 Formula Shortage: Update for Families

June 9

Why Your Child Most Likely Does Not Have A Penicillin Allergy

June 8

NORD Applauds House Passage of H.R. 7667, the Food and Drug Amendments of 2022

June 7

FDA Approves Dupilumab for Children With Eczema Aged 6 Months to 5 Years

June 2

Q&A: Dupilumab Approved for EoE, Plus Hope for More Therapies

June 1

Q&A: FDA approval of dupilumab for eosinophilic esophagitis a ‘victory for rare diseases’

May 26

FDA Approval of Dupilumab Celebration at Cincinnati Children's

May 20

First Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis Wins FDA Approval

May 20

FDA Approves First Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a Chronic Immune Disorder

May

One Family’s Story about Penicillin Allergy Testing

May 17

Scientists Making Progress Against a Severe Form of Food Allergy

May 17

What to Expect from Your Nasal Endoscopy Video

May 15

Highlights of Eosinophilic Disease-Related Research (May 2021-2022)

May 15

Message on National Eosinophilic Awareness Week: CEGIR Administrative Director

May 15

Message on National Eosinophilic Awareness Week: CEGIR Principal Investigator

May 1

May Cover of Gastroenterology: Transcriptome-Based Analysis Offers Insight Into Eosinophilic Colitis as a Distinct Disease Entity

May

2022 Scholar Day Presentation by Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD

April 21

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (NORD) Video

April 21

Cures Within Reach seeks clinical trials in health disparities or led by underserved researchers

April 15

Young and Healthy Podcast: Plant-based Milk Alternatives and Kids

April 4

FDA accepts Dupixent® (dupilumab) for Priority Review in patients aged 12 years and older with eosinophilic esophagitis

April 1

2022 Eleventh Annual Department of Internal Medicine Research Symposium

Congratulations to the Internal Medicine Allergy Fellows whose research were recognized at the 2022 Eleventh Annual Department of Internal Medicine Research Symposium!

  • Simin Zhang, MD won second place in Trainee Clinical Research Poster Awards! Mentor: Drs. Jonathan Bernstein and Marc Rothenberg. Poster Title: “The mast cell pain connection in eosinophilic esophagitis”
  • Najeeb U. Khan, MD won an honorable mention in Trainee Clinical Research Poster Awards! Mentor: Dr. David Bernstein. Poster Title: “Effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine and Omalizumab in Refractory Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Real-World Study.”
  • Yashu Dhamija, MD won first place in 2022 Trainee Clinical Case Report Poster Awards! Mentor: Dr. David Bernstein. Poster Title: “Idiopathic Post-Prandial Diarrhea and Dermatographism: A Case Series”

March 24
New Federal Spending Bill Also Helps Food Allergic School Children

March 22
Earlier and Longer Pollen Seasons Due to Climate Change Expected to Impact Allergic Diseases

March 16
Climate Change Cited as Cause of Recent Increases in Asthma Allergy Prevalence

March 11
Cincinnati Children’s, UC College of Medicine Become a World Allergy Organization Center of Excellence

February 13
Building a Community to Change the Outcome Together Through Research

February 1
Children with High-Risk Reaction Histories to Penicillin Can Undergo Direct Oral Penicillin Challenges

January
World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guidelines update – I – Plan and definitions
Since the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guidelines were published 10 years ago, new evidence has accumulated about the diagnosis, therapy, and specific immunotherapy for cow's milk allergy (CMA). For this reason, WAO has felt the need to update the guidelines. Thank you to our local colleague, Amal H. Assa'ad, MD, for her dedicated work as part of the WAO DRACMA guideline group!

January 26
Community Access Funding to Focus on Increasing Diverse Engagement in Food Allergy Research

January 26
Molecular Analysis Suggests Eosinophilic Colitis is a Unique Disease

January 24
Cincinnati Magazine Top Doctors of 2022
Thank you to all our physicians for the great work that they do every day and congratulations to Drs. Sandy Durrani, Yasmin Hassoun, Michelle Lierl, Kimberly Risma, and Marc Rothenberg for being recognized as Top Doctors 2022 in Allergy/Immunology by Cincinnati Magazine!

January 13
CEGIR Researchers Report on the FDA Workshop: Challenges, Progress, Questions in Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders

January
Allergic to Penicillin? Don't Make Rash Judgments

January 7
Preparing for Progress on Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases Beyond Eosinophilic Esophagitis

November 29

Remote immune processes revealed by immune-derived circulating cell-free DNA

Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD and his team are collaborating with Israeli scientists to develop non-invasive biomarkers for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE); in this publication, they describe recent findings in their pursuit to develop an EoE blood test.

November 23

Two Genes Associated with Familial EoE

October

2021 STAT Wunderkind Award to Tetsuo Shoda

October

Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR) Video

October 25

Artificial Intelligence Holds the Key to Diagnosing Rare Esophageal Food Allergy Disease

October 25

Second DUPIXENT® (Dupilumab) Phase 3 Eosinophilic Esophagitis Trial To Demonstrate Significant Disease Improvements, Underscoring Role of Type 2 Inflammation in This Complex Disease

“It is exciting to see this continual positive data, especially knowing that the foundation for this therapy was derived from our long term research focus deciphering the role of type 2 immunity (IL-13) in Eosinophilic Esophagitis and other related diseases." ~Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD

October 21

Cincinnati Children’s Launching Collaboration with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology

October 20

FDA expands approval of Dupixent® (dupilumab) to include children aged 6 to 11 years with moderate-to-severe asthma

October 13

Neonatal Antibiotics Disrupt Esophageal Microbiota, May Increase Risk of EoE

October 13

Groundbreaking partnership combines Israeli technological prowess with pediatric medicine

September 16

Discovery of Rapid-Response Signaling Platform Suggests New Path for Blocking Allergic Inflammation

September

Melanie Uses Pageant Platform to Share Her Story and Build Eosinophilic Esophagitis Awareness

September 1

Bridge to Next-Gen Medicine

August 13

Congratulations to Amal H. Assa'ad, MD for one of her July publications being among the most shared science at Cincinnati Children's

August 13

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Awardee

Congratulations to Andrea for winning 2nd place for her Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) presentation! This presentation was based on the research that Andrea conducted in the Rothenberg CURED Lab through the SURF Medical Exploration program. Under the mentorship of Julia Dunn, PhD and Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD, Andrea investigated gene expression patterns of eosinophils in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

August 12

Division NIH LRP Awardees

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Ashley L. Devonshire, MD, MPH and third-year clinical fellow Simin Zhang, MD, for being recognized for their excellence with awards from a Loan Repayment Program (LRP) of the National Institutes of Health! The NIH LRPs are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research and are highly competitive. Drs. Devonshire and Zhang continue the strong showing of the division in having NIH LRP recipients, including prior NIH LRP awards to Drs. Michael G. Sherenian, MD, MS, Steve P. Proper, DO, PhD, and Joseph Sherrill, PhD. Since tomorrow's medical breakthroughs will be made by investigators starting in their research careers today, the LRPs represent an important investment by NIH in the future of health discovery and the wellbeing of the Nation and represent recognition of an investigator's potential. Dr. Devonshire is currently researching food allergy and food allergy risk in infants. Dr. Zhang is currently researching mast cell involvement and functions in eosinophilic esophagitis under the mentorship of Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD and J. Pablo Abonia, MD.

August 2

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Food Allergy Connection

“Common gastrointestinal ailments, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain, may instead be food-induced allergic disorders,” says our Cincinnati Children's Center for Pediatric Genomics awardee Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD in the NY Times

July 19

Less Restrictive Diet for Adult EoE with Milk Trigger: Some Adults with EoE Allergy Can Just Cut Milk, Instead of 6 Foods

July 12

Care Providers Read Patient Comments from Experience Surveys: Yasmin Hassoun

At Cincinnati Children's, our caregivers go above and beyond each day to give patients the best experience possible. Hear how they, including Yasmin Hassoun, MD (Allergy/Immunology), react to meaningful words straight from their patient families.

July 9

The Penicillin Allergy Testing Services (PATS) Team was invited for an interview with Cincinnati Children’s Young & Healthy Podcast!

July 5

EoE: the Food Allergy Disease

June 21

Eosinophilic Asthma: What Doctors Need You to Know

June 16

Artificial Intelligence in Allergy/Immunology Transformative machine learning in diagnosing eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)

June 10

Man Undergoing Treatment of Rare Genetic Condition Graduates College 2,500 Miles Away From Home

May 21

Oral Immunotherapy in Synapse

April 29
Decoding the Mysteries of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
This is encouraging news for all of our patients and families effected by the combination of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs).

April 21
Amoxicillin-associated Rash

April 1
Congratulations to two of our Cincinnati Children's and University of Cincinnati Allergy / Immunology fellows for being recognized with first and second place in clinical research at the 10th Annual Department of Internal Medicine Research Symposium. Simin Zhang, MD was awarded 1st for her project “Clinical Significance of Mast Cell Density in GI Biopsies in Patients Presenting for Evaluation of GI Mast Cell Disorders”, and David Adams, PhD was awarded 2nd place for his project: "Multifactorial Regulation of Axl Expression".

March
Who We Are: Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Video

February 22
Cincinnati Children’s Team and Faculty Awards
Allergy Nursing Team recognized as the “2020 Top Performing Small Division for Outstanding Nursing Patient Family Experience (PFE)”! This honor was awarded based on a review of the annual experience survey scores and positive comments, which highlight the exceptional feedback the team routinely receives from the patients and families. The team was recognized in a virtual awards ceremony held on Monday, February 22nd. Thank you for all you do, for making a difference in the lives of so many families and for promoting a positive experience at Cincinnati Children’s!

Vincent Mukkada, MD received the “2020 Top Pediatric Provider Award” at Cincinnati Children’s! This is an amazing, well-deserved accomplishment, reflecting not only his outstanding clinical care, but also a great team at large with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders.

Kimberly Risma, MD, PhD received the “2020 Clinical Care Achievement Award”! Dr. Risma is an extraordinary clinician whose innovation has led to the creation of the Drug Allergy Program launched in 2019. She is also having a leading impact in promoting the next generation of physicians in the allergy and immunology field. This award is most deserving and demonstrates appreciation for her immense dedication, talents and contributions.

February 11
2020 Research Highlights: Division of Allergy and Immunology

February 11
RDCRN Announces New 2021 Network Steering Committee Leadership
We are pleased to announce that Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD has been elected as co-chair of the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN, www.rarediseasesnetwork.org) Steering Committee. Dr. Rothenberg will join Dr. Jennifer Puck and Dr. Andrea Gropman in leading the RDCRN Steering Committee.

January 21
Cincinnati Children’s to House Food Allergy Biobank and Biomarker Discovery Center

January 21
FARE Announces Key Partnerships in Crusade to Advance Food Allergy Research

January 14
Scientist Spotlight: Marc Rothenberg Leads Eosinophilic Collaboration and Research to New Discoveries

January 13 
EoE Research Selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ in JACI

January 6
How Experts at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are Combatting Allergic Reactions

Understanding Food Allergy

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explains food allergy and offers tips on how to manage the condition.

Ghory Lecture

The Ghory Lecture is an annual event presented by the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s and the Cincinnati Asthma and Allergy Society. It began in 1991 and was named in honor of Joseph E. Ghory, MD.

Joseph E. Ghory, M.D.

1915-1988

Joseph E. Ghory, M.D. treats a patient. Dr. Joseph Ghory was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his M.D. from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1939. After completing a pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, he practiced general pediatrics in Cincinnati for 17 years.

He was devoted to teaching and was instrumental in establishing the pediatric residency training program at Good Samaritan Hospital, where he served as the first director of pediatric education. He was elected president of the Cincinnati Pediatric Society, the Children’s Hospital Medical Staff and the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati. Impressed by the large number of children with allergic diseases, he sought additional training in allergy and became the first board-certified pediatric allergist in Cincinnati in 1960. Together with Dr. Leonard Bernstein, Dr. Ghory established the Allergy Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati and the Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Ghory’s special interest and vision was the long-term care and rehabilitation of children with intractable asthma, using a community approach with involvement of the family and a limited hospital stay. He thus became director of the Convalescent Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, organized and presided over the national Association of Convalescent Homes and Hospitals for Asthmatic Children and was chairman of the Rehabilitation Committee of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology.

Dr. Ghory’s greatest pride was his family, and his legacy lives on in two of his daughters, Ann Ghory, M.D. and Patricia Ghory, M.D., who are practicing allergists in the Cincinnati area, and now in three of his grandchildren, who are now our young practicing and future allergists. 

2020-

2024 – Steve Holland

2023 – Jonathan Bernstein

2022 – Marc Rothenberg

2021 – Aikaterini Anagnostou

2020 – Sandy Durrani and Justin Schwartz

2010-2019

2019 – William W. Busse

2018 – Seema Aceves

2017 – Elizabeth Phillips

2016 – Carina Venter

2015 – Kara Shah

2014 – Linda Cox

2013 – Kimberly Risma

2012 – David Fleischer

2011 – Amal Assa’ad

2000-2009

2009 – Marc Rothenberg

2008 – Scott Sicherer

2007 – Carolyn Kercsmar

2006 – Jim Gern

2005 – Sally Wenzel

2004 – Anne-Marie Irani

2003 – Donald Leung

2002 – Fernando Martinez

2001 – Marianne Frieri

2000 – Wesley Burks

1991-1999

1999 – Alan Kaplan

1998 – Bruce Bochner

1997 – Robert Lemanske

1996 – Peter Creticos

1995 – Michael Blais

1994 – Paul Greenberger

1993 – Elliot Ellis

1992 – Louise Marker

1991 – Sami Bahna

Allergy / Immunology Fellowship

Group of fellows.
Our division offers fellowship training in pediatric and adult Allergy / Immunology in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati. Read more
Read the blog.
Learn more about allergy and immunology on the Cincinnati Children’s blog. Read Our Blog

Research Science Blog

Learn more about research efforts on eosinophilic conditions. The Research Horizons blog provides news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children’s.

Read More

Research Highlights

Our research spans fundamental studies, translational investigation, and clinical trials. Novel models of immunologic diseases, developed and / or fine-tuned by divisional researchers, provide unprecedented systems to investigate key inflammatory steps involved in pediatric allergic and immunologic disease and to enhance our understanding of mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages and lymphocytes. Read More