Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research

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Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research

The Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research (CFAAR) is an interdisciplinary and collaborative re

12/11/2025

Dr. Ruchi teams up with Dr. Sharmilee Nyenhuis, Director of the Asthma Center at UChicago Medicine, to tackle a big question, how can people with asthma stay active safely? 🫁

💬 Did you know 80–90% of people with asthma experience symptoms during exercise? They share tips to prepare your body and lungs before physical activity, why talking to your doctor matters, and how pre-treating with an inhaler 10–20 minutes before exercise can help. Plus, kids with asthma can play sports and thrive! 🏃‍♀️⚽

Northwestern

12/08/2025

Make an impact this summer! The CFAAR Scholars Program is a 7-week, full-time, paid internship where you’ll gain hands-on experience in public health research, attend weekly sessions with experts, and build skills that matter, like data analysis, public speaking, and mentoring.

📅 June 15 – July 31, 2026
💰 Stipend provided
🔗 Apply by Feb 1, 2026!

Apply here: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cfaar/community-outreach/scholars-program.html

12/05/2025

Our Founding Partners share one mission: to better prepare early childcare programs to recognize and respond to allergic emergencies.

We’re proud to work side-by-side with organizations dedicated to education and preparedness. Learn more about the Collaborative and our partners: https://bit.ly/4hGJ4Lo

Kaléo Pharma Allergic Living Association for Early Learning Leaders Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research Code Ana USA Elijah-Alavi Foundation The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, FAACT Kids With Food Allergies Foundation

12/05/2025

Check out our CFAAR team at IAHPERD’s annual convention! 🧡 Our team members Sarah Valaika, MS Samanatha Sansweet, MPH and Angela Oest, PA-C MPH presented on: From the Classroom to the Gym: Understanding Food Allergy.🥜 We were proud to bring our mission into rooms full of educators, health professionals, and advocates. Big thank you to the team for the opportunity to share, learn, and build momentum around food allergy & asthma care in schools!

12/04/2025

Did you know shellfish is the #1 food allergy in adults and the most common adult-onset allergy? The average age of onset is just 13 years old! 🦞

Shellfish allergy can be life-threatening, and it’s NOT the same as a finfish allergy. If you’re diagnosed, always carry your epinephrine!

In this episode, Dr. Ruchi Gupta talks with Dr. Carla M. Davis, MD, Chair of Pediatrics & Child Health at Howard University College of Medicine and nationally recognized expert in food allergy and immunology.

They cover:
✅ Adult-onset shellfish allergy
✅ Life-threatening vs. non-life-threatening allergy
✅ Why shellfish ≠ finfish
✅ Essential safety tips

Watch now and share with someone who needs this info!

CarryYourEpi

12/03/2025

CFAAR’s Dr. Christopher Warren co-authored a study to investigate the correlations between and alcohol consumptions, anxiety, and depression in Australian males. They found that men with asthma are at a 68% higher of developing and depression than those without asthma. Additionally, young adult males (aged 18–31) with asthma are at higher risk of anxiety than boys or adults. To read more about “Associations between asthma and the risk of mental and behavioral problems in males” see the link below. 🔗📊

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02770903.2025.2580998

12/02/2025

💙 It’s Giving Tuesday! Your generosity today helps CFAAR continue vital research to prevent food allergies and support families everywhere. Together, we’re building healthier lives for generations to come.

👉 Donate now: https://give.northwestern.edu/campaigns/57449/donations/new?a=9849687&designation_id=N3020678&utm_campaign=OCST&utm_content=FSMOG&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=FSM

Thank you for being part of this mission!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from CFAAR! We’re grateful for this incredible community and your ongoing support. Wishing you a joyful holiday with family and friends! 🧡

Thanksgiving is all about sharing meals, but for families managing food allergies, it can be challenging! Here are some quick tips to stay safe: ⁠

🍁 Always read labels and call manufacturers if unsure.
🍁 Carry your epinephrine and keep it accessible.
🍁 Check allergen advisories before cooking or baking.
🍁 Inform guests about dietary restrictions.
🍁 Bring your own dish if needed!

Learn more on our website: cfaar.northwestern.edu!

11/26/2025

Dr. Ruchi Gupta joins Dr. Mimi Tang, Head of the Allergy Immunology Research Group and Director of the Allergy Translation Centre at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, to break down Oral Immunotherapy (OIT)—what it is, how it helps patients, and why high-dose OIT isn’t something to fear.

✅ Learn the facts.
✅ Empower your choices.
Curious about OIT? Watch the full conversation and take the first step toward understanding your options!

11/26/2025

Welcome Eleanor! 💜 Eleanor is an intern working with CFAAR’s administration and educational initiatives. She is currently a student at Northwestern, working towards a Masters in Higher Education and Policy. We are so excited to have Eleanor on board!

11/25/2025

Check out The Daily Northwestern’s recent article! More colleges are starting to keep undesignated in their dining halls, a lifesaving step for students who face severe allergic reactions. Schools like the University of Michigan, the University of Maryland, and Illinois State University have already moved forward with programs that make EpiPens and AUVI-Q available on-site.

With 1 in 10 college students living with food allergies, and many reporting reactions during their time on campus, quick access to can make all the difference.

CFAAR’s Ruchi Gupta, MD MPH, said that the presence of stock epinephrine increases student comfort. Her daughter, who has , attends Duke University, another school with undesignated epinephrine in its dining halls. “I know it just makes her feel a little bit better, that stock epinephrine is there, and she knows where it is if she needs it,” Dr. Gupta said.

Northwestern University does not currently have stock epinephrine in its dining halls, though Plex West is a dining hall where all the food is prepared free of the top nine allergens. In addition, all other dining halls have “Pure Eats” stations that offer food cooked separately from other dishes, free of the allergens.

📸: The Daily Northwestern

Read the full The Daily Northwestern article here:

https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/13/uncategorized/universities-stock-life-saving-medication-in-dining-halls-advancing-allergic-reaction-protocols/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAOUIpZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad3PALCYG6Scr6ZzeIXXTLnovtYbEDGp5z3FVjqSuDHZoonTGqW_W6CYhfO9g_aem_J1OuugVjkQG4h-2yu_KD5g

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750 N. Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, IL
60611

Website

https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/cfaar/

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