The Arkansas Center for Food Allergy Research (ArCOFAR) at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) will continue pursuing groundbreaking discoveries with a $2.3 million award from the National Institutes of Health.
The seven-year award will equip the center to continue hosting innovative therapeutic trials, longitudinal studies and provocative research design concepts all aimed at improving the lives of children who have allergies to foods including peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and tree nuts.
Earlier this year, research conducted at the center led to the first FDA-approved biologic treatment for children and adults with allergy to peanuts and multiple food allergies.
“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, MD, who leads the center, is a principal investigator for many of its studies and treats allergy patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). “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.”
Jones is also a professor of pediatric allergy and immunology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) College of Medicine.