Allergy/Immunology Research

The focus of research in the Paediatric Allergy and Immunology Department is to improve understanding in the mechanisms of autoimmune and allergic diseases. Research aims to produce a better understanding of mechanisms that will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

All research in our department is undertaken after approval from the HNEAHS Ethics Committee.

During a patient's initial assessment at John Hunter Children's Hospitals outpatients clinic, a patient may be asked to participate in current research studies if found to be eligible. Parents have the choice to agree or decline. If a patient declines, it will not affect your treatment by our services in any way.

 

Current Allergy/Immunology Research

 

Utility of specific peanut proteins and exhaled nitric oxide in predicting clinical reaction during an open oral peanut challenge

Food challenges are an important part of the management of children and adolescents with peanut allergy.  They involve some risk due to the possibility of a severe reaction. The process is time consuming (it requires at least half a day to be performed) and considerable hospital resources are required with a long waiting list for hospital based peanut challenges.

Recently developed blood tests may help us predict if an allergic reaction will occur during a food challenge. A new breathing test may help us predict the severity of allergic reaction if it were to occur. This will allow doctors caring for peanut allergic patients to be well prepared when performing food challenges.

Patients will be allocated a date for food challenges at JHCH and asked to attend a Pre Challenge Clinic the week before. The purpose of this visit is for a clinical examination, skin prick testing and optimisation of asthma management including pulmonary function testing.  This is standard practice for all patients having an oral food challenge.

In this study in addition to the above your child will need to have a blood test and participate in a breath test for measurement of nitric oxide.

This study will run from May 2012 to Dec 2012. If you wish to participate or want more information you can contact (02)4921 3676.

 

Detection of Vascular Injury in Diabetes through Eye and Nail fold Data (DIVIDEND) - A pilot study

The purpose of the study is to look at differences in blood vessel appearances in nails and the eyes in people that have diabetes. Some vessel patterns can help in the diagnosis of early signs for worsening diabetes, and allow treatment to commence to help relieve the symptoms. This study will help our understanding of diabetes illness and improve the way we look after patients.

DIVIDEND will look at nail and eye vessel appearances of children aged 8-18 years diagnosed with an insulin dependent diabetes mellitus attending the diabetes clinics of Dr Trish Crock and Dr Donald Anderson at John Hunter Children's Hospital.

This study will run from Jan 2010 to Oct 2010. If you wish to participate or want more information please contact (02)49 213672.

 

Wet dressings in Eczema Therapy (WET) Study

This study will help us to better understand eczema, a very common skin condition in childhood, and work out the best method of treating eczema. Eczema can have a significant impact on the quality of life of both the child and their family.

There are different types of treatment that can be used for children with eczema. Standard treatment usually involves using moisturising creams and corticosteroid creams applied to the skin. Some dermatologists and paediatricians around the world also use a treatment called "wet dressings" to treat more severe flare ups of eczema. Wet dressings involve applying a thin layer of moistened elastic bandage (Tubifast) over the moisturising and corticosteroid creams, followed by a second dry layer of bandage. The wet dressing is thought to work by moistening the skin, allowing the creams to better move through the skin layers to a deeper layer. There is no good evidence suggesting that wet dressings are better than standard therapy. Our study seeks to answer this question.

This study will run from July 2010 to June 2011. If you wish to participate or want more information please contact (02)49 213672.

 

Past Allergy/Immunology Research

 

Investigation of nailfold capillary appearance changes in paediatric patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease as an early indicator of pulmonary hypertension (PINCA)

The purpose of the study is to explore the differences in nail and nail capillary appearance in people that experience autoimmune symptoms. It is thought that nail capillary patterns can potentially diagnose autoimmune illnesses such as Limited Systemic Sclerosis (LSSc) at an early stage, and allow appropriate treatment to commence at an earlier stage than is currently possible.

This study may greatly contribute to our understanding of autoimmune illness and also improve patient management.

This study is at present closed.