APFED Announces Recipient for 2020 Hope APFED/AAAAI Grant Award
May 17, 2020
Funded study seeks to define the molecular and immunologic details of t-cell antigen specificity in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
ATLANTA, GA —The 2020 Hope APFED/AAAAI Grant Award has been awarded to David A. Hill, MD, PhD, of University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Division of Allergy and Immunology, for a promising research study that will utilize state-of-the-art techniques in experimental immunology to provide the first examination of the immune cells that contribute to the emerging food allergy eosinophilic esophagitis.
Dr. Hill is the recipient of a $140,000 grant over two years for his promising research study titled “Interrogation of Pathogenic T-cell Clonotypes in EoE.” The award will be funded equally between the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Dr. Hill’s project will try to understand how the immune system interacts with food allergens to cause EoE. By expanding our understanding of allergen/immune cell interactions, this work will contribute to identifying new immune targets for drug development.
Established in 2013, the Hope APFED/AAAAI Grant Award is the result of a collaborative effort between APFED and AAAAI to enable investigators from a variety of disciplines to initiate projects relevant to eosinophil-associated diseases, with a focus on the development of new and inventive ideas that are likely to lead to future external funding and better patient outcomes.
“The Hope APFED/AAAAI Grant Award attracts outstanding applicants who represent a broad range of perspectives in the study of eosinophil-associated disorders, and this project in particular shows great promise to move the field forward,” said APFED Executive Director Mary Jo Strobel. “Supporting new research is a key part of APFED’s mission, and we appreciate our donors, volunteers, and our funding partner AAAAI for making it possible to advance Dr. Hill’s work.”
“This support is critical to initiating the next phase of EoE research. In addition to funding a novel data resource for the field, this work will provide preliminary data that we hope will lead to future NIH-funded research programs focused on EoE pathogenesis,” said Principal Investigator Dr. David Hill.
APFED’s competitive research grant program, the Hope on the Horizon Research Fund, is supported entirely by donations. For more information, please visit apfed.org.
About the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED)
The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to passionately embrace, support, and improve the lives of patients and families affected by eosinophil-associated diseases through education and awareness, research, support, and advocacy. www.apfed.org.
About the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries.