LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Center for Food Allergy Research (ArCOFAR) at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) has been awarded $2.3 million from the National Institutes of Health.
The seven-year award will allow the center to continue hosting therapeutic trials, longitudinal studies, and research aimed at improving the lives of children with allergies to foods including peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and tree nuts.
“The ArCOFAR team is committed to excellence in delivering state-of-the-art clinical care, innovative education and mentoring, and cutting-edge translational research,” said Stacie Jones, a professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the UAMS College of Medicine. “We have seen astounding advancements for families affected by food allergies over the last 20 years, but our work is far from done. The next phase of funding will help us create better opportunities for global implementation of the most effective therapeutic and prevention options.”
The renewed funding has three main goals:
- Growing study participation among diverse populations in rural and underserved regions
- Increasing research into new focus areas
- Promoting career development for early-career food allergy scientists through mentoring and direct engagement
Earlier this year, research conducted at the ArCOFAR led to the first FDA-approved biologic treatment for children and adults with allergies to peanuts and multiple food allergies.