Euro funding for asthma research
13 February 2004

Experts at the National Asthma Campaign have welcomed the award of nearly £10m of funding for research into the growing burden of asthma and allergy.

Scientists believe that at the current rate of increase, half of Europe's population could be living with an allergy by 2015. Recognising this imminent threat, the European Commission has given the grant to GA2LEN, a pan-European network of researchers, patients' organisations and professional bodies.

Allergy, including asthma, is the most common long-term medical condition in Europe. The UK is particularly hard-hit: it has the highest prevalence of severe wheeze in children aged 13-14 years worldwide, and in a recent study of 16 EU states, the UK topped a survey of adults who have asthma at some point in their lives.

Across the continent, asthma and allergy are one of the main reasons that children miss school and are admitted to hospital, and asthma is responsible for 9 billion work days lost according to EFA (European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Associations).

Professor Paul van Cauwenberge, GA2LEN's coordinator, believes asthma and allergy are important public health problems. 'Asthma, food allergies, bee and wasp stings can be fatal, but allergy is the disease with the highest morbidity. If you are allergic, your quality of life and sleep and your professional or school activities will also be seriously compromised.'

Understanding more about what happens early in life that may cause the development of asthma and allergies is a key priority for the network. Researchers will investigate some of the ideas put forward for the increase in the prevalence of asthma and allergies, including the suggestion that some aspects of the 'western lifestyle' such as diet or increased hygiene may be responsible.

Other research areas include the role of the environment, work and gender on the development of asthma and allergies. The aim is to deliver better diagnosis, care and health services for people with asthma and allergies across Europe.

'We're very excited about this funding initiative, as it is committing funding to an important area which is a current priority for the National Asthma Campaign's research programme in the UK,' said Dr Matthew Hallsworth, the Campaign's Research Development manager.

'We hope that over the next few years, we can really begin to answer some of the big questions about the cases of asthma and allergy.'