World-leading allergy experts join Australia’s Centre of Excellence

Published

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Distinguished international clinician scientists specialising in multiple facets of allergic disease have been appointed to the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB).

The Board members, including seven experts from across America, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, will generously volunteer their time and expertise to help the NACE deliver its vision of dramatically accelerating allergy research in Australia.

Chair, Professor Hugh Sampson (pictured), Kurt Hirschhorn Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, said the Board would help keep the NACE up-to-date with global work underway to address rising allergy rates.

“Having served as the head of the NIH-sponsored Consortium of Food Allergy Research in the USA, I appreciate the power of bringing centers of excellence together to accelerate and enhance all facets of medical knowledge,” he said.

“I am honoured and excited to chair the NACE ISAB comprised of distinguished international experts in various fields of allergy, and to help shape the national research strategy to transform the lives of Australians affected by allergic disorders.”

Prof Sampson has over 40 years’ experience in translational research focusing on food allergic disorders and basic immunologic mechanisms responsible for these disorders. He has authored or co-authored more than 550 original articles and 90 book chapters, and trained 40 postdoctoral allergy/immunology fellows, many of whom are now leaders in the field.

The Board will provide support on governance and strategic direction, including risk management, and support the work of the NACE Executive Committee. Members include:

• Professor Hugh Sampson (Chair), food allergy expert, Mount Sinai, New York, America
• Professor Elizabeth Phillips, drug allergy expert, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, America
• Professor Tony Basten, insect allergy expert, University of Sydney, Australia
• Dr Robert Boyle, food allergy expert, Imperial College London, England
• Professor Stephen Durham, respiratory allergy expert, Royal Brompton Hospital London, England
• Professor Mika Makela, biobanks expert, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
• Associate Professor Britta Jeppesen, living evidence expert, Monash University, Australia

Professor Elizabeth Phillips, Professor of Medicine, Dermatology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, also led the development of early drug hypersensitivity programs in Australia.

“I am proud of the progress that has been made so far,” she said. “I look forward to supporting even greater things to come as we set out to fulfil the mission of transforming allergy research and clinical care, and the national and global impact that will have.”

Professor Tony Basten, Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney and Co-chair of Tiara (Tick Induced Allergies Research & Awareness), said the Board would help the NACE “stay up-to-date with this increasingly important field of internal medicine”.

In recognition of Prof Basten’s pioneering work in clinical immunology and allergy for more than 40 years, the annual oration at the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Conference was named in his honour.

Professor Kirsten Perrett, NACE Director and Allergy Research Pillar lead, said appointing the Board was a major milestone for the NACE, which is funded by the Australian Government to help save lives and reduce the national burden of allergic disease.

“We know Australia is considered the allergy capital of the world with five million people living with allergies. To help turn the tide around, we need to collaborate with – and learn from – the global leaders in this space.”

The first NACE International Scientific Advisory Board meeting will be Tuesday 14 November 2023. Learn more about the Board members.