Research on Allergic Diseases

Areas of Focus

Our research areas include register- and laboratory-based studies, with the objective to map associations between genetics, environment, and allergic diseases.

Highlighted Research Projects

Research on the early and genetic prognosis of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) is a common inflammatory and itching skin disease which start early in childhood. The eczema is difficult to register for research purposes because it is often recurrent. In some patients the disease is lifelong, while other patients get well. Although there are useful predictors of disease persistence, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, familial atopy, filaggrin gene-mutations, these cannot stand alone. By using the Danish register and biobank data we study atopic dermatitis registrations (e.g. use of topical corticosteroids) over many years as well as new prognostic factors for disease persistence, such as prior medication profile and genetic markers.

Research on longterm-effects of allergy vaccination

Despite an effective allergy vaccine few allergic persons are vaccinated. An important reason is a lack of knowledge about longterm-effects after patients have completed a standard vaccination-course lasting 3 years. We follow more than 30.000 vaccinated patients by using the Danish registers and Laboratory database, and study the longterm-effect more than 10 years after vaccination, including the effect on medication use, physician- and hospital-contacts. Ultimately we will estimate how much is saved by vaccinating a higher number of allergic individuals in Denmark.

Research on genetics of penicillin allergy

Despite penicillin allergy is the most commonly reported drug class allergy, little is known about who develops penicillin allergy. We study genetic variants in patients with IgE-verified penicillin-reaction, by using DNA material, the Danish registers, the national Laboratory database, and the CopLab database (historical data from Copenhagen). The study is a case-control genomewide association study. The purpose is to identify genetic markers or mechanisms that can help to offer alternative antibiotics in high-risk patients.