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Academy News: July 2003
Lay Organizations
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Immune Deficiency Foundation
40 West Chesapeake Avenue
Suite 308
Towson, MD 21204
Phone 800-296-4433
www.primaryimmune.org |
IDF Awards 2003 Research Grants
The Immune Deficiency Foundation initiated an annual research grants
program in 2000 for researchers pursuing studies in primary immune
deficiency diseases. The annual grants program is a national competition
and proposals are peer-reviewed to ensure excellence. IDF is pleased to
announce the recipients of its 2003 research grant awards:
Donna L. Bratton, MD
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
Denver, Colorado
“Defective Phosphatidylserine Exposure During Apoptosis of Neutrophils in
Chronic Granulomatous Disease Inhibits Phagocytic Recognition and
Engulfment and Results in Enhanced Inflammation”
Stefan Feske, MD
The Center for Blood Research, Inc.
Boston, Massachusetts
“Identifying Mutations in Calcium Release Activated (CRAC) Channels in T
Cells from Patients with Sever Combined Immunodeficiency”
IDF is currently accepting research proposals for the 2004 Research Grants
Program. The proposal deadline is November 1, 2003. For more information,
contact IDF at 800-296-4433 or idf@primaryimmune.org
IDF Launches New Website
Check out www.primaryimmune.org! The Immune Deficiency Foundation launched
a new Web site in April 2003 celebrating Primary Immune Deficiency
Awareness Week. The new Web site features the most current and up-to-date
information available for patients and families affected by primary immune
deficiency diseases. The Web site also offers expanded information on
health insurance, a new section on genetics and inheritance of primary
immune deficiency diseases, and an “In the News” section highlighting
research headlines, IDF events and initiatives and other important
information. In addition, links to professional resources are available.
IDF’s new Web site features password protected discussion forums. Patients
and family members affected by primary immune deficiency diseases can log
on to chat and share their experiences with others. The current forum
topics include:
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Living as an Adult with Primary Immune Deficiency
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Parenting a Child with Primary Immune Deficiency
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Experiences with Immune Globulin Therapy
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Coping with a New Diagnosis
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Teen Talk: Teens living with Primary Immune Deficiency
We are constantly updating the site with local program developments,
research and scientific programs, and progress on our public policy
initiatives. Log on to www.primaryimmune.org today!
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Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
10400 Eaton Place, Suite 107
Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone 800-929-4040
Fax (703) 691-2713
www.foodallergy.org |
The 6th Annual Food Allergy Awareness Week (FAAW)
was held May 11-17, and we celebrated the first World Food Allergy
Awareness Day on May 11. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia
recognized FAAW via proclamation this year. FAAN and the other members of
the international Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance (FAAA) worked to
educate the public during this time.
Schools
FAAN is preparing a guidance document for managing food allergies during a
school “lock down” due to emergency situations. Among the topics covered
will be food selection to avoid common allergens and medication storage.
Free materials for schools regarding food allergy management are available
on the FAAN Web site: www.foodallergy.org.
Pediatric Food Allergy Supplement
Last year, FAAN co-hosted a meeting with many of the world’s leading
experts in food allergy to help pediatricians better understand the
diagnosis and treatment of food allergy.
The information presented at this meeting is being published as a
supplement to the June issue of Pediatrics, a publication of the American
Academy of Pediatrics, and will be distributed to more than 60,000
pediatricians across the country.
Mariel C. Furlong Awards
AAAAI members James Banks, MD, FAAAAI, and Kenneth Kray, MD, were the
recipients of this year’s Mariel C. Furlong Award for Making a Difference
in the Health Professional category. They were nominated by their
patients, and selected based on their significant contributions to food
allergy awareness, education and advocacy. A total of 21 individuals
received MCF Awards this year. Other award categories include Community
Service, School and Food Service. Nominations for this annual award will
reopen in October.
Special Events
The FAAN Golf Classic, scheduled for August 11 at Ellington Ridge Country
Club in Connecticut, will feature cocktails, dinner and a silent auction
after the tournament. FAAN will also host a movie premiere at Disneyland
Resort, CA on September 28. Proceeds from both events will be used to
support education and research activities.
Anaphylaxis Update
A 32-year-old man with a known shrimp allergy recently died after eating a
meal that may have been contaminated with shrimp. The man’s wife said he
was very careful, but he didn’t carry his epinephrine.
A 12-year-old girl with a known peanut allergy died after eating an egg
roll. No other information has been confirmed at this time.
Please remind your patients to be careful and be sure they have prescribed
medication with them at all times.
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
1233 20th St. NW, Suite 402
Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202) 466-7643
Fax (202) 466-8940
www.aafa.org |
Research: Finding the U.S. Allergy Capital™
The Foundation recently completed a research project to identify the
nation’s top 50 Allergy Capitals™ the worst cities for people with
allergies, and Louisville, KY, rated highest on the list. This first
annual listing is part of a nationwide campaign to help consumers
recognize, prevent and safely treat allergy symptoms. The 2003 Allergy
Capitals™ were identified and ranked based on key objective environmental
and medical factors in each market, including:
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Environmental factors - The average recorded
pollen levels over the past seven years and the length of the peak season
for the most offensive pollen types.
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Medical factors - The number of antihistamine
prescriptions written per capita over the past year and the current number
of board certified allergists per capita.
Each factor was “weighted,” in consultation with medical and research
experts, to reflect its relative importance as an indicator of allergy
severity. Then the weighted factors in each market were tallied, compared
and ranked to come up with the final Allergy Capital™listing.
Louisville, KY, achieved the highest rating primarily because of its
extremely high average pollen counts over the years. However, physicians
in the Louisville metropolitan area also prescribe a much
higher-than-average number of antihistamine prescriptions per capita than
many of the other cities on the list. This indicates that people who live
in the area are severely affected by the high concentration of allergens
in the air. Fortunately, according to the Foundation’s research results,
the number of Board Certified allergists per capita in the Louisville area
is consistent with the national average.
Education: Nationwide public education campaign begins
To celebrate the Foundation’s 50th anniversary, we have launched a
national, multi-year public education campaign under the theme, For Life
Without Limits, to educate Americans about advances in research,
diagnosis, prevention and treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases.
For Life Without Limits is more than a theme, it’s a new mission for the
Foundation, our Chapters and Educational Support Groups, to help improve
the quality of life for millions of people affected by these diseases. The
Foundation believes that people with asthma and allergies can
significantly improve their lives and health though education and proper
health management. The public awareness campaign will involve national
awareness research, public service ads, PR campaigns, strategic
partnerships and more.
Advocacy: Support on Capitol Hill
The Foundation advocates for new, safe and effective drugs that mitigate
the personal and social consequences of asthma. We recently offered a
voice of support to encourage a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
committee to recommend approval of a new asthma drug. The Foundation
invited several asthma patients to provide personal testimony at the FDA’s
Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee’s (PADAC) May meeting about the
benefits of approving the new therapy, Omalizumab (Xolair), as a treatment
for moderate-to-severe allergic asthma in adults and adolescents. The
resulting PADAC recommendation unanimously supported approval of the drug,
and the FDA is expected to make a final decision later this summer.
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Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
2751 Prosperity Ave., Suite 150
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone 800-878-4403
Fax (703) 573-7794
www.aanma.org
E-mail aanma@aol.com |
Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill 2003
Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill 2003 (AADCH) was a huge success! Allergy
& Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA) hosted its sixth annual
AADCH national education event in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2003. AADCH
provides a public forum for lawmakers to address issues affecting people
with asthma and allergies. Highlights of this year’s event include the
introduction of legislation that will save children’s lives and benefit
all families of students with asthma and anaphylaxis.
More than 300 people attended the public Allergy & Asthma Expo at Union
Station. The Expo featured 25 exhibits on allergies and asthma from
nonprofit organizations, government agencies and corporate sponsors. The
Expo featured free asthma screenings including pulmonary function testing
and consultations with board-certified allergists. Children’s
entertainment included Clifford the Big Red Dog, Ernie of Sesame Street,
Zoey and Light Buddy, Pulmi, and Uncle Sam Stiltwalker. Goody bags with
Aller-Rx products and Pizzeria Uno coupons, refreshments, and door prizes
donated by Staples and America Restaurant rounded out the event.
In the afternoon, attention turned to the U.S. House of Representatives.
At our press conference in the Cannon House Office Building,
Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Representative Patrick Kennedy
(D-RI) announced they would introduce legislation known as ASTHMA 2003
that afternoon. Representatives Joe Barton, Ed Towns, and Nita Lowey (AADCH
2003 Congressional Co-Chairs) also spoke in support of the legislation.
ASTHMA 2003, officially known as H.R. 2023, provides incentives to states
to develop statutes allowing students to carry and self-administer
prescribed lifesaving asthma and anaphylaxis medications while at school.
The bill has been referred to the Energy & Commerce committee.
AANMA continues to celebrate the success of AADCH 2003; however, there is
much work to be done over the next year. Help all students with allergies
and asthma by contacting your Federal elected officials and asking them to
support H.R. 2023!
New Asthma and Pregnancy Brochure Available in Spanish
Check out the Spanish version of AANMA’s "Breathing for Two: A Guide to
Asthma During Pregnancy.” “Respirando Por Dos” is coauthored by James
Kemp, MD, FAAAAI and Michael Schatz, MD, MS, FAAAAI and AANMA President
Nancy Sander. The brochure is endorsed by the AAAAI and the Association of
Asthma Educators and sponsored by a grant from AstraZeneca. For a free
copy of this brochure call 800-878-4403 while supplies last. The booklet
also can be downloaded from our Web site at
www.breatherville.org/medicalcenter.
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