CRC Abstract / Summary
FA (FA) is very common, affecting up to 32 million Americans, including up to 8% of children and 10% of adults,
and its prevalence appears to have increased significantly over the past 20 to 25 years.4,10 The past decade has
seen tremendous progress in the investigation of FA, with significant advances in both prevention and treatment,
as well as in the understanding of the immunologic basis of FA. However, at this time there is still only a single
FDA-approved therapy for FA, and given its limitations most patients are still left with the age-old option of strict
avoidance and the use of emergency medications upon accidental exposure. Given these facts, safe and
effective therapies, or even better preventative approaches that can be widely applied, are highly desirable.
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has been a leader in the study of FA for over 30 years, and a CoFAR Clinical
Research Center (CRC) since its inception. With its large referral population, the center has been a world leader
in defining the natural history of FA and in the study of FA treatments. In addition, JHU has a remarkable track
record of training the next generation of leaders in FA research, and most important to this application, the entire
Hopkins team of physicians, nurses, research assistants, and laboratory personnel remains intact, poised to
move forward with this next 7 years of CoFAR. From the scientific perspective, this application puts forward three
outstanding protocols. The first is a cutting edge, network wide clinical trial on the treatment of peanut allergy
using a novel approach to immunotherapy utilizing a peanut peptide vaccine. The second and third protocols are
site-specific, led by outstanding young investigators, the first focusing on the mechanisms of food-induced
anaphylaxis and the second on patient-centered outcomes in FA treatments.
Given these facts and the details to follow, it is clear that JHU is exceptionally qualified to remain a CRC for this
next iteration of CoFAR. The site brings to CoFAR an unbeatable combination of highly experienced investigators
and staff, available patients, and a track record of innovation, leadership, and performance, as well as an
unparalleled record in the development of the next generation of clinician scientists focused on the study of FA.