AllerGen’s Allergic Rhinitis CIC: optimizing a nasal allergen challenge protocol

The nasal allergen challenge (NAC) protocol developed by AllerGen’s Allergic Rhinitis – Clinical Investigator Collaborative (AR-CIC) is described in a new publication available from the website of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology (AACI), the official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI).

The article, titled “Nasal Allergen Challenge Protocol Optimization for Studying AR Pathophysiology and Evaluating Novel Therapies,” outlines how AllerGen investigators Dr. Anne Ellis and Dr. Helen Neighbour developed and optimized Standard Operating Procedures for each step of the NAC model, including participant eligibility, allergen introduction, symptom recording, and sample collection.

The AR-CIC is a multi-centre initiative that studies the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis (commonly known as “hay fever”) by conducting clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of new medications for its treatment.

The AR-CIC’s NAC model introduces allergen into the nasal cavity of subjects, while controlling for the many environmental variables potentially at play. This standardized and efficient approach is indispensable to the effective study of allergic rhinitis.

“This publication provides an easy reference tool for anyone interesting in pursuing clinical trials with an optimized nasal allergen challenge protocol,” comments Dr. Ellis.

“It also reflects the growth of expertise in these techniques within the centres involved in the AR-CIC, as well as the efficacy of a network approach to developing such tools. All-in-all, the article lets the world know that the AR-CIC is ‘open for business.’”