National Jewish Health Launches Groundbreaking Study on Food Allergies

Researchers at National Jewish Health are conducting a clinical trial to develop a less invasive method for identifying potentially life-threatening food allergies. Currently, the most accurate way to diagnose food allergies and manage them over time is through a food challenge, a procedure pioneered by National Jewish Health researchers in the 1970s. This method has since become the gold standard for reliably identifying food allergies, but the process can occasionally provoke severe clinical reactions.

The new clinical trial that has just launched seeks to offer a safer, less invasive alternative. The process being tested samples of an individual’s skin though the use of small adhesive discs to help researchers understand the skin composition.  This new technique could transform the way food allergies are diagnosed and treated.

"For decades, food challenges have been used to help identify food allergies, particularly in cases where it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of a person’s symptoms,” said lead researcher on the study Donald Leung, MD, PhD, and Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at National Jewish Health.  “The general practice involves gradually introducing a small amount of a suspected allergen under controlled conditions to observe whether an allergic reaction occurs. While this process can help health care professionals diagnose food allergies more accurately, we are now exploring an easier way, using the painless skin sampling approach our institution invented.”

If the skin tape method proves successful, it would provide a non-invasive and safe alternative to food challenges. This could be a game-changer for families dealing with food allergies, especially children who are at risk of life-threatening reactions. Instead of going through a potentially dangerous food challenge, a simple skin tape could help diagnose food allergies without the risk of anaphylaxis.

As part of the trial, participants will receive omalizumab, a new treatment for food allergies, which will be administered free of charge. Omalizumab is used to treat food allergies, particularly in cases of accidental exposure, which can cause severe reactions.

The researchers are seeking to enroll 30 participants by Jan 2026. 

For more information, including about how to participate, please visit: Evaluating Skin Barrier Changes in Food Allergy

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit the media resources page.