Grant: Planning Grants - Priority Announcement: Infection and Immunity

We propose to organize the first Canadian Workshop on B-lymphocyte Tolerance in Allergic Diseases. Allergic diseases are a major health issue, affecting up to 20% of the Canadian population. In children, asthma and food allergies have been increasing steadily in the past two decades. Both diseases are associated with significant morbidity, risk of mortality, and a large investment in resources in preparing schools and home environments to diminish risks for affected children. Presently, therapy is limited to symptom relief for asthma and avoidance and emergency preparedness for food allergies. A potential treatment strategy entails modifying allergic responses to inciting allergens, inducing tolerance such that IgE is not produced. In both conditions, there are examples of individuals who appear to have developed tolerance, either naturally or via active immunotherapy to inhaled allergens or foods. To understand B-cell tolerance in allergic diseases, it is important to study the cohorts who have lost their allergic sensitivity. This workshop will address recent discoveries in the biology of tolerance in B-lymphocytes. Researchers on the cutting edge of the field of immune tolerance will be assembled to present formal lectures and participate in round table discussions. Participants will include scientists and clinicians in the field, as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows actively involved in B-cell immunology or allergy. This event is aimed at training highly qualified personnel in methods of evaluation of human B-cells and strategies for understanding the development of tolerance. In addition, a portion of the workshop will be a planning session to develop a multi-specialist network of clinicians and scientists aimed at studying the evolution of allergic disease in children. We anticipate 75-100 participants for the lectures and discussions over a 2 day session, including 12-15 clinicians and scientists to participate in developing the study.