This week, Jonathan is joined by Drew Bird, Director of the Food Allergy Center at Children’s Health, Dallas, Texas, USA, to dive into environmental factors that have led to the increase in allergies, including peanut allergy, and oral immunotherapy as a treatment for allergies. The pair further discuss misconceptions and misinformation around allergies, and which allergies need more attention.

Use the following timestamps to navigate the topics discussed in this episode:

(00:00)-Introduction

(02:28)-Bird’s career in paediatric allergy and immunology

(04:50)-Misconceptions in the field

(08:47)-Using food proteins for immunotherapy

(11:53)-Bird’s role as Director of the Food Allergy Center at Children’s Health

(16:46)-Unmet needs in paediatric food allergies

(18:05)-The PALISADE Study

(19:39)-Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome

(21:46)-Environmental factors and emerging allergies

(26:36)-Innovations in the allergy and immunology field

(30:51)-Advocating for young patients to promote effective healthcare

(33:15)-Bird’s three wishes for the future of healthcare

Prof Bird has the following disclosures: Consultant for AllerGenis, Allergy Therapeutics, Ltd, Before Brands, DBV Technologies, FARE, Genentech, HAL Allergy, Novartis, and Nutricia; and has received grant funding (institution) from Aimmune, Astellas, DBV Technologies, FARE, Genentech, NIH NIAID, Novartis, Regeneron and Siolta.