Germany & U.S. Collaborate on Food Allergy Genes

10/24/17: Germany & U.S. Collaborate on Food Allergy Genes

The Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, is Europe's largest University clinic, affiliated with both Humboldt University and Freie Universität Berlin. Prof. Young-Ae Lee, a researcher at the MDC and head of the Charité's outpatient pediatric allergy clinic, stated, "Studies of twins suggest that about 80 percent of the risk for food allergies is heritable, but little is known so far about these genetic risk factors."  Based upon a collaborative study with Berlin, Frankfurt, Greifswald, Hanover, Wangen, and Chicago, researchers found evidence that a "gene cluster...was identified as a specific genetic risk locus for food allergies...four of the five identified risk loci are associated with all food allergies."  In short, this is useful because it helps researchers identify the cause (genes) which can help to create a cure, perhaps, someday.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-10-clarity-genetic-children-food-allergies.html