Our mission
Research within the Allergy theme focuses upon the origins and natural history of allergic diseases and asthma across the life-course, with an emphasis on prevention and translation for patient benefit. We seek to understand the heterogeneity of allergic disorders using the latest machine-learning approaches, and facilitate the provision of personalized, mechanism-based treatments and prevention strategies.
As a group, we are determined to remove the artificial divisions separating clinical research, basic science and data science, and have moved towards a more integrated approach, wherein cross-disciplinary collaborations ensure rigorous scientific scrutiny and interpretation of findings.
Our approach
Our research findings to date have been of great practical significance, and have informed and changed national and international guidelines on prevention and management of childhood allergic diseases and asthma. We are cognisant of the fact that no single source of data or methodology can uncover the complex mechanisms underpinning disease heterogeneity, and that without understanding those mechanisms, we will not be able to improve patient outcomes. Therefore, we have implemented a fundamental shift toward team science, which will provide a powerful catalyst for improved patient outcomes.
Current work
We are one of the leading food allergy desensitisation groups in Europe and were recently awarded "Best Hospital Clinical Team" by Allergy UK. Severe, life-threatening anaphylaxis is one of the key areas of interest. Our programme of work seeks to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of anaphylaxis, using in-human experimental models on our dedicated children’s Clinical Research Facility. We want to understand why a small number of individuals are at risk of very severe, truly life-threatening reactions, while most food-allergic individuals are not.
We are actively involved in evaluating novel approaches of allergen immunotherapy for respiratory disease, using modified hypoallergenic proteins, subcutaneous immunotherapy in combination with novel adjuvants, sublingual immunotherapy, peptide immunotherapy, biologics plus allergen strategies to improve safety, efficacy and induce immune tolerance to sensitising allergen.
We have pioneered the use of machine learning methodologies for improving causal inference in well-characterised birth and patient cohorts and randomised controlled trials to help the discovery of different endotypes of asthma and allergic diseases, and understand mechanisms underlying their development, thereby advancing stratified medicine. We lead the MRC UNICORN programme which integrates birth cohorts with patient cohorts and randomised controlled trials for joint analyses, offering opportunity for a step-change in understanding mechanisms underlying different asthma endotypes.
Key research areas and theme leadership
Key research areas
- Endotype discovery and personalised treatment for childhood allergic diseases
- Primary prevention of allergic diseases, using both nutritional and non-nutritional interventions
- Oral food immunotherapy
- Mechanisms of anaphylaxis
- Allergen immunotherapy for respiratory disease
- Immune tolerance
Theme lead
Professor Adnan Custovic
Professor of Paediatric Allergy
Adnan Custovic leads the Paediatric Allergy Group within the Section of Inflammation, Repair and Development, and is Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at St. Mary’s Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital.
Theme members
Dr Sukeshi Makhecha
Dr Sukeshi Makhecha
Pharmacist
Dr Bob Boyle
Dr Bob Boyle
Reader in Paediatric Allergy
Professor Adnan Custovic
Professor Adnan Custovic
Professor of Paediatric Allergy
Dr Sara Fontanella
Dr Sara Fontanella
Non-Clinical Lecturer in Biomedical Modelling
Dr Henal Ghandi
Dr Henal Ghandi
Pharmacist
Dr Claudia Gore
Dr Claudia Gore
Consultant in paediatric allergy
Dr Sadia Haider
Dr Sadia Haider
Research Associate
Dr Sharon Hall
Dr Sharon Hall
Consultant paediatric allergist
Dr Maeve Kelleher
Dr Maeve Kelleher
Honorary Senior Lecturer
Dr Constantinos Kotsapas
Dr Constantinos Kotsapas
Specialist Registrar
Dr Franz Puttur
Dr Franz Puttur
Research Associate
Dr Yasmin Razak
Dr Yasmin Razak
GP Partner
Professor Sejal Saglani
Professor Sejal Saglani
Professor of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
Dr Thomas Semple
Dr Thomas Semple
Consultant radiologist
Dr Mohamed Shamji
Dr Mohamed Shamji
Reader in Immunology & Allergy
Katelyn Smalley
Katelyn Smalley
Research Postgraduate
Victoria Tsang
Victoria Tsang
Paediatric Pharmacist
Dr Paul Turner
Dr Paul Turner
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Dr Marta Vazquez-Ortiz
Dr Marta Vazquez-Ortiz
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer
Emeritus Professor John Warner
Emeritus Professor John Warner
Emeritus in Paediatrics
Dr Chiara Zuiani
Dr Chiara Zuiani
Clinical Research Fellow