The Canadian Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Foundation (CAAIF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1995, to improve the quality of lives of Canadians by supporting allergy, asthma and clinical immunology research.
We owe it to our fellow Canadians to ensure that asthma and allergy research in Canada remains at the forefront of discovery and innovation.
In order for Canadian researchers to continue their important research on asthma and allergy prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure, additional funding is required.
This year, CAAIF will distribute over one million dollars in research grants, fellowships and studentships to leading Canadian researchers pursuing asthma, allergy and immune-related disease research with potential to improve the health of Canadians.
One of the current research projects being supported by CAAIF is the: Development of a novel, targeted, a cell-based immunotherapeutic drug for asthma conducted by Dr. Channaleshava Umeshappa from Dalhousie University.
Lay summary
In asthma, the airways get damaged, compromising optimal performance and well-being and, when severe, shortening lifespan. Across Canada, ~1 in 3 people has asthma.
There are only a few drugs for asthma. Non-specific immunosuppressants are indicated for severe asthma, but they can suppress our immune system, increasing the risk of lung infections.
Asthma is caused by small environmental particles called allergens. Certain white blood cells respond to these allergens, become dangerous and damage airways. Our proposal develops a cell-based anti-asthma treatment, which will kill these cells that respond to allergens without causing general immune suppression, a long-sought-after goal in asthma therapy.
