The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation is a charitable trust dedicated to promoting research and educating the public about the issues and causes surrounding anaphylaxis for Australian children.

The Foundation will proactively identify the projects and organisations it wishes to support - it will not be able to process or consider unsolicited applications.

Recent contributions

Research March 2006

The first contribution from the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation was given in March 2006 to the world-renowned Murdoch Children's Research Institute, based at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. This $100,000 donation will allow new research dedicated to finding a cure for allergic reactions to nuts and peanuts, which can cause death if the reaction is extreme.

Research January 2007 to December 2009

The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation conducted its first round of competitive Scientific Research Grants in December 2006. Grants were reviewed by three independent experts in the field on immunology. We are pleased to announce the following contributions to food allergy research in Australia:

Nut Allergy Immunisation
Alfred Hospital, Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine
Professor Robyn O’Hehir was awarded $300,000 to investigate the “Induction of regulatory T cell responses to inhibit ‘anaphylactic’-type immune responses to nut allergens”. This is an exciting, world class project which will determine the potential for a safe and effective immunological therapy for people with nut allergies and assist in the development of better diagnostics for people with nut allergies.

Prevention of Food Allergies
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Allergy and Immune Disorders Research Group Department of Allergy and Immunology
Associate Professor Mimi Tang was granted $150,000 towards her project “Prenatal Probiotics for the Prevention of Allergic Disease”, which aims to investigate whether prenatal microbial supplementation can prevent the development of food allergies and other allergies disorders. If prenatal microbial supplementation is as effective as the preliminary data suggests, then this treatment will have widespread application as a population-based preventive strategy against one of Australia’s greatest health burdens. Such a strategy may have enormous impact on the worldwide prevalence of all allergic disorders including nut allergy and anaphylaxis.

Environment and Food Allergies
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Allergy and Immune Disorders Research Group Department of Allergy and Immunology
Dr Katrina Allen was awarded $200,000 towards “Identifying Modifiable Risk Factors for Peanut Allergy in Children”. This project will assist in determining environmental exposures which may alter the development, persistence and severity of peanut, egg and sesame allergy.

Public Education

Healthy Living Program

The Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation is working in partnership with Firbank Grammar School in Melbourne to develop the “Healthy Living Program”, which includes a DVD and curriculum materials which we hope will be made available to other schools around Australia. This is in an endeavour to:

• Educate students, teachers and parents on the dangers of allergic reactions caused by some foods.
• Remove some of the fears associated with allergies
• Promote a healthier lifestyle.

As a practical way to assist allergy sufferers everywhere, the Foundation (in conjunction with Firbank Grammar School) has released the Fast Ideas cookbook with recipes that are low-risk for those suffering from allergies.

Fast Ideas Safe Recipes for Kids

"Fast Ideas Safe Recipes for Kids" is a cookbook which has been specifically created and coded for children with food allergies, including allergies to nuts, seeds, milk, egg, soy, gluten and fish. Each recipe is coded for specific common allergens, to make it easier to select the recipes that are appropriate for the allergy sufferer’s particular circumstances. Most recipes also provide suitable alternatives for common allergen ingredients to make life a little simpler! The cookbook also provides details about food allergies and intolerances, what to look for in the nutrition panels of food labels, food additives and food allergens.

Author Denise King, is the parent of a child with anaphylaxis, and has been part of the food industry as a teacher and caterer for twenty years. The recipes have been provided in consultation with one of the world’s most respected paediatric dieticians, Dr Dorothy Francis. Dr David Hill, Senior Consultant Allergist at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne writes, “I have long recognized the need for a book of this caliber and content to assist parents in managing children of all ages with food allergies”.

Fast Ideas Safe Recipes for Kids retails for $24.95 and can be purchased through Crazy John’s stores, Firbank Grammar School book shop or directly through the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation. For more information contact (03) 9695 0228.