Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology

About our Research Programs

The research programs of the Allergy/Immunology Division include investigations in rhinitis, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, aspergillus mediated allergic diseases, food allergy, and primary immunodeficiencies.

Current research studies:

1. Pediatric and Adult Asthma Trials:
   • Phase IIIb Multi-center, Randomized, Double¬-Blind, Placebo-¬Controlled Study of Xolair® in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Persistent Asthma Who are Inadequately Controlled With High-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroids and Long-Acting Beta-Agonist
   • Epidemiologic Study of Xolair® (Omalizumab): Evaluating Clinical Effectiveness and Long-Term Safety in Patients With Moderate to Severe Asthma (EXCELS)
   • A 1 Year, Randomized, Double Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Evaluation of Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Omalizumab in Children (6 - <12 years) With Moderate-Severe, Persistent, Inadequately Controlled Allergic Asthma.
   • Study of Acid Reflux in Children with Asthma (SARCA): The purpose of this NIH funded research is to test the hypothesis that children with symptomatic asthma will have improved asthma control with medical treatment of esophageal reflux with the proton-pump inhibitor, lansoprazole, as compared to children treated with placebo.
2. Food Allergy: We have ongoing clinical research projects in the area of food allergies. Current studies include:
   • Detection of Peanut Protein in Serum and Saliva
   • Determination Of Minimum And Non-Provoking Doses Of Soy Protein In Soy Allergic Individuals
3. Primary Immunodeficiency
   
   • Pilot Program to Screen Newborns for Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) in Wisconsin: The purpose of this research is to develop a collaborative program with the WI State Department of Hygiene to screen all newborns in the State of WI for SCID. We will extract DNA from blood spots on newborn screening cards and use real time PCR to quantitate T cell receptor circles to screen for SCID.
   • Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Primary Immunodeficiencies: the purpose of this research is to determine if transforming viral infections lead to lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with primary immune deficiencies.