Success Stories

Success Stories is written for Canadian families and healthcare providers, providing up-to-date information on cutting-edge research into asthma, allergies and anaphylaxis and exploring what causes these illnesses, how better to manage, treat and prevent them, and steps towards finding cures. Whether it’s the results of a new childhood asthma study, the launch of a unique patient education tool or the search for a cure for food allergies, Success Stories has it covered.

Review content issue-by-issue below, or by topic / disease area:

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All in Good Time: Amid ever-changing advice about when to introduce allergenic foods to babies, CHILD Study research sends a clear signal

Featuring: Dr. Malcolm Sears (McMaster University)

New Genes on the Scene: New research by AllerGen investigators identifies a group of genes that contribute to food allergy and peanut allergy

Featuring: Dr. Denise Daley (University of British Columbia) & Dr. Yuka Asai (Queen’s University)

Anxious Mom, Allergic Kid? A mother’s distress not only affects her interactions with her baby—it can also throw the baby’s immune system off-kilter.

Featuring: Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj (University of Alberta)

HQP Profile—Philippe Bégin: This former AllerGen trainee won’t rest easy until oral immunotherapy becomes accessible to all who need it

Featuring: Dr. Philippe Bégin (Sainte-Justine Hospital)

Beware of Bunk: “Alternative facts” abound in the diagnosis and treatment of allergy and asthma

Featuring: Timothy Caulfield (University of Alberta)

Smart Cells: New research suggests our own cells may one day help us overcome asthma and allergies

Featuring: Dr. John Gordon (University of Saskatchewan)

Bad Air, Good Dirt

Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer, Dr. Hind Sbihi (The University of British Columbia)

An Epigenetic Lens on Allergy and Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Michael Kobor (The University of British Columbia)

Molecular Mysteries of Allergies and Asthma: Uncovering Simplicity within Complexity

Featuring: Dr. Fiona Brinkman (Simon Fraser University)

Nothing to Sneeze at: A Better Way to Study Allergic Rhinitis

Featuring: Dr. Anne Ellis (Queen’s University)

C-CARE Registry Tracks Anaphylaxis Across Canada

Featuring: Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan (Montreal Children’s Hospital)

Developing a Vaccine for Asthma and Allergies

Featuring: Dr. Dr. Tobias Kollmann (The University of British Columbia)

A New Approach to Measuring Indoor Exposure to Phthalates

Featuring: Dr. Miriam Diamond (University of Toronto)

Joining Forces to Explore Occupational Allergies

Featuring: Dr. Linn Holness (University of Toronto)

Predicting Allergies and Asthma in Babies—Pioneering Canadian Scientists Discover that Stem Cells are “Crystal Balls”

Featuring: Dr. Judah Denburg (McMaster University)

Internationally Acclaimed Canadian Scientists Discover How Airway Cells Respond to Viruses and Air Pollution—Is a Revolutionary New Drug for Airway Diseases on the Horizon?

Featuring: Dr. Tony Bai (The University of British Columbia)

Adults Raised in Poor Socioeconomic Circumstances Show Increased Susceptibility to Chronic Disease

Featuring: Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Edith Chen (The University of British Columbia)

Babies’ Exposure to Phthalates in the Home: Developing a Profile of Allergy and Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Tim Takaro (Simon Fraser University)

Unlocking the Secrets of Mind-Body Connections to Revolutionize Inflammatory and Allergic Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Featuring: Dr. Dean Befus (University of Alberta), Dr. Ronald Mathison and Dr. Joseph Davison (University of Calgary)

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Breastmilk: Best Served Straight from the Source – Researchers at CHILD’s Manitoba site have discovered a new benefit of breastfeeding

Featuring: Dr. Meghan Azad (University of Manitoba), Dr. Shirin Moossavi (University of Calgary)

Clean House, Constricted Airways: Not all cleaning products are created equal – and new research shows that frequent use could predispose children to developing asthma

Featuring: Dr. Tim Takaro & Jaclyn Parks (Simon Fraser University)

Looking After Little Lungs: Avoiding antibiotics in infancy may protect against future asthma

Featuring: Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

Beware of Bunk: “Alternative facts” abound in the diagnosis and treatment of allergy and asthma

Featuring: Timothy Caulfield (University of Alberta)

Smart Cells: New research suggests our own cells may one day help us overcome asthma and allergies

Featuring: Dr. John Gordon (University of Saskatchewan)

Anti-Asthma Squad: Four Gut Bacteria Help Protect Kids from Developing Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Brett Finlay, Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

An Epigenetic Lens on Allergy and Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Michael Kobor (The University of British Columbia)

Molecular Mysteries of Allergies and Asthma: Uncovering Simplicity within Complexity

Featuring: Dr. Fiona Brinkman (Simon Fraser University)

Asthma patients breathe easier in El Salvador

Featuring: Featuring: Dr. Dean Befus (University of Alberta)

The Economics of Asthma: The Cost of Being at Work, but Not Being “All There”

Featuring: Dr. Mohsen Sadatsafavi (The University of British Columbia)

From Traffic Lanes to Twitchy Lungs

Featuring: Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer (The University of British Columbia)

‘Home-Grown’ Asthma Support for Aboriginal Children and Youth

Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta)

Developing a Vaccine for Asthma and Allergies

Featuring: Dr. Dr. Tobias Kollmann (The University of British Columbia)

A Canadian Quest for Higher Quality Asthma Care

Featuring: Dr. Teresa To (University of Toronto)

How Diesel Exhaust Changes Our Genes

Featuring: Dr. Chris Carlsten (University of British Columbia)

United Airways: From Nose to Lungs

Featuring: Dr. Louis-Philippe Boulet (Université Laval)

Can Helping “Preemies” Breath Easier Lead to Childhood Asthma?
Featuring: Dr. Cameron Mustard (University of Toronto)
Drug Plans Can Impact Kids with Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Wendy Ungar (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Probiotics – Helpful or hoopla?

Featuring: Drs John Bienenstock & Paul Forsythe (McMaster University)

Piecing Together a Protein Puzzle

Featuring: Dr. Kelly McNagny (University of British Columbia)

When is Your Child’s Wheeze a Sign of Asthma? Canadian Researchers Establish New Diagnostic Tests for Infants and Young Children

Featuring: Dr. Padmaja Subbarao (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Predicting Allergies and Asthma in Babies—Pioneering Canadian Scientists Discover that Stem Cells are “Crystal Balls”

Featuring: Dr. Judah Denburg (McMaster University)

Using the Internet to Improve Education and Support for Canadian Children, Teens, and Parents Affected by Asthma and Allergies

Featuring: Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta)

Asthma in the Workplace: Looking to Ease the Burden through Identification and Prevention

Featuring: Dr. Mieke Koehoorn (The University of British Columbia)

Urine Samples Advance Asthma Diagnosis and Help Patients ‘Breathe Easy’

Featuring: Dr. Darryl Adamko (University of Alberta)

A New Generation of e-Learning Tools for Asthma Education

Featuring: Dr. Scott Tebbutt (The University of British Columbia) and Dr. Anthony Levinson (McMaster University)

The Global Search for Allergy and Asthma Genes: Genetic Testing, Counselling and Novel Therapies on the Horizon

Featuring: Dr. Peter Paré (The University of British Columbia)

The Front Lines: Studying Asthma During Early Childhood Development

Featuring: Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

Using the World-Wide Web to Drive Asthma Genes Research Forward at High Speed

Featuring: Dr. Denise Daley (The University of British Columbia)

Teaching Kids with Asthma How to Take Charge of Their Health

Featuring: Dr. Allan Becker (University of Manitoba)

Mapping Air Pollution to Predict Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer (The University of British Columbia) and Dr. Ryan Allen (Simon Fraser University)

A Tale of Horses and Humans: Lung Health Parallels

Featuring: Dr. Jean-Pierre Lavoie (University of Montreal)

International Drug Companies Line Up at AllerGen CIC’s Doorstep

Featuring: Dr. Paul O’Byrne (McMaster University)

Children with Stressed-Out Mothers at Risk for Developing Asthma

Featuring: Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj (University of Alberta)

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Pass the Peanut, Please! How to protect a baby from developing peanut allergy? Start with some peanut-based foods

Featuring: Dr. Elinor Simons (University of Manitoba)

New Genes on the Scene: New research by AllerGen investigators identifies a group of genes that contribute to food allergy and peanut allergy

Featuring: Dr. Denise Daley (University of British Columbia) & Dr. Yuka Asai (Queen’s University)

HQP Profile—Philippe Bégin: This former AllerGen trainee won’t rest easy until oral immunotherapy becomes accessible to all who need it

Featuring: Dr. Philippe Bégin (Sainte-Justine Hospital)

All in Good Time: Amid ever-changing advice about when to introduce allergenic foods to babies, CHILD Study research sends a clear signal

Featuring: Dr. Malcolm Sears (McMaster University)

Investigating Anaphylaxis: Finally, Some Numbers

Featuring: Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan (Montreal Children’s Hospital)

More Choice, Less Risk for those with Food Allergies

Featuring: Dr. Susan Elliott (University of Waterloo), Dr. Ann Clarke, University of Calgary)

Peer Power: Helping Allergic Kids to Help Each Other

Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta), Kyle Dine (Anaphylaxis Canada)

Cracking the Case of Peanut Allergy

Featuring: Drs Andrew Sandford (University of British Columbia) and Catherine Laprise (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)

AllerGen: An Incubator for Young Researchers

Featuring: Dr. Jennifer Protudjer (Karolinska Institute)

AllerGen Food Allergy and Food Labelling Research Team Supports Policy Updates to Enhance the Protection of Food Allergic Consumers

Featuring: Dr. Ann Clarke (McGill University) and Dr. Susan Elliott (University of Waterloo)

Canadian Physicians and Basic Research Scientists Successfully Partner on Innovative Diagnostic Test to Predict Peanut Allergy

Featuring: Dr. Susan Waserman (McMaster University)

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CHILD Research Success Stories: Winter 2021 (Vol. 13)

Click here to read the full issue

Screens & Consequences: Researchers at CHILD’s Edmonton site have taken a close-up look at screen time in preschoolers and found that quantity matters – a lot
Featuring: Dr. Piush Mandhane (University of Alberta), Dr. Sukhpreet Tamana (Simon Fraser University)

Breastmilk: Best Served Straight from the Source – Researchers at CHILD’s Manitoba site have discovered a new benefit of breastfeeding
Featuring: Dr. Meghan Azad (University of Manitoba), Dr. Shirin Moossavi (University of Calgary)

Pass the Peanut, Please! How to protect a baby from developing peanut allergy? Start with some peanut-based foods
Featuring: Dr. Elinor Simons (University of Manitoba)

Clean House, Constricted Airways: Not all cleaning products are created equal – and new research shows that frequent use could predispose children to developing asthma
Featuring: Dr. Tim Takaro & Jaclyn Parks (Simon Fraser University)

Looking After Little Lungs: Avoiding antibiotics in infancy may protect against future asthma
Featuring: Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

Aussi disponible en français

AllerGen Success Stories: Winter 2019 (Vol. 12)

Click here to read the full issue

All in Good Time: Amid ever-changing advice about when to introduce allergenic foods to babies, CHILD Study research sends a clear signal
Featuring: Dr. Malcolm Sears (McMaster University)

The Stress Molecule: A University of Alberta researcher and his team have identified a molecule that increases during acute stress
Featuring: Dr. Dean Befus (University of Alberta)

New Genes on the Scene: New research by AllerGen investigators identifies a group of genes that contribute to food allergy and peanut allergy
Featuring: Dr. Denise Daley (University of British Columbia) & Dr. Yuka Asai (Queen’s University)

Anxious Mom, Allergic Kid? A mother’s distress not only affects her interactions with her baby—it can also throw the baby’s immune system off-kilter.
Featuring: Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj (University of Alberta)

HQP Profile—Philippe Bégin: This former AllerGen trainee won’t rest easy until oral immunotherapy becomes accessible to all who need it
Featuring: Dr. Philippe Bégin (Sainte-Justine Hospital)

Aussi disponible en français

AllerGen Success Stories: Summer 2017 (Vol. 11)

Click here to read the full issue

Fruits of Their Labour: Mothers who consume more fruit while pregnant may give their babies a brain boost
Featuring: Dr. Piush Mandhane (University of Alberta)

Smart Cells: New research suggests our own cells may one day help us overcome asthma and allergies
Featuring: Dr. John Gordon (University of Saskatchewan)

How Sweet It Isn’t: Can a mom’s intake of artificial sweeteners while pregnant make her child obese?
Featuring: Dr. Meghan Azad (University of Manitoba)

Beware of Bunk: “Alternative facts” abound in the diagnosis and treatment of allergy and asthma
Featuring: Prof. Timothy Caulfield (University of Alberta)

HQP Profile—Diana Lefebvre: Taking care of CHILD — actually, more like 3,500 children.
Featuring: Dr. Diana Lefebvre (Research Manager CHILD Study)

SS10

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AllerGen Success Stories: Spring 2016 (Vol. 10)

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Anti-Asthma Squad: Four Gut Bacteria Help Protect Kids from Developing Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Brett Finlay, Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

Bad Air, Good Dirt
Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer, Dr. Hind Sbihi (The University of British Columbia)

AirSENCE: Getting Personal with Air Pollution
Featuring: Dr. Jeffrey Brook, Dr. Greg Evans (University of Toronto)

Investigating Anaphylaxis: Finally, Some Numbers
Featuring: Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan (Montreal Children’s Hospital)

HQP Profile—Matthew Gold: Paragon of Productivity
Featuring: Dr. Matthew Gold (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)

SS9-cover

Aussi disponible en français

AllerGen Success Stories: Spring 2015 (Vol. 9)

Click here to read the full issue

More Choice, Less Risk for those with Food Allergies
Featuring: Dr. Susan Elliott (University of Waterloo), Dr. Ann Clarke, University of Calgary)

Peer Power: Helping Allergic Kids to Help Each Other
Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta), Kyle Dine (Anaphylaxis Canada)

An Epigenetic Lens on Allergy and Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Michael Kobor (The University of British Columbia)

Molecular Mysteries of Allergies and Asthma: Uncovering Simplicity within Complexity
Featuring: Dr. Fiona Brinkman (Simon Fraser University)

HQP Profile—David Préfontaine: From Research Lab to Industry Liaison
Featuring: Dr. David Préfontaine (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.)

ss8

Aussi disponible en français

AllerGen Success Stories: Fall 2014 (Vol. 8)

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The Ethics of Biobanking: Is the Public On Board?
Featuring: Prof. Timothy Caulfield (University of Alberta)

Asthma patients breathe easier in El Salvador
Featuring: Dr. Dean Befus (University of Alberta)

The Economics of Asthma: The Cost of Being at Work, but Not Being “All There”
Featuring: Dr. Mohsen Sadatsafavi (The University of British Columbia)

Nothing to Sneeze at: A Better Way to Study Allergic Rhinitis
Featuring: Dr. Anne Ellis (Queen’s University)

HQP Profile—Meghan Azad: Minding the Microbiome
Featuring: Dr. Meghan Azad (University of Alberta)

SuccessS7

Aussi disponible en français

AllerGen Success Stories: Winter 2014 (Vol. 7)

Click here to read the full issue

Developing a Vaccine for Asthma and Allergies
Featuring: Dr. Tobias Kollmann (The University of British Columbia)

From Traffic Lanes to Twitchy Lungs
Featuring: Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer (The University of British Columbia)

‘Home-Grown’ Asthma Support for Aboriginal Children and Youth
Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta)

A Canadian Quest for Higher Quality Asthma Care
Featuring: Dr. Teresa To (University of Toronto)

C-CARE Registry Tracks Anaphylaxis Across Canada
Featuring: Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan (Montreal Children’s Hospital)

ss6 AllerGen Success Stories: Summer 2013 (Vol. 6)

Click here to read the full issue

How Diesel Exhaust Changes Our Genes
Featuring: Dr. Chris Carlsten (University of British Columbia)

Cracking the Case of Peanut Allergy
Featuring: Drs Andrew Sandford (University of British Columbia) and Catherine Laprise (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi)

A New Approach to Measuring Indoor Exposure to Phthalates
Featuring: Dr. Miriam Diamond (University of Toronto)

United Airways: From Nose to Lungs
Featuring: Dr. Louis-Philippe Boulet (Université Laval)

AllerGen: An Incubator for Young Researchers
Featuring: Dr. Jennifer Protudjer (Karolinska Institute)

ss5 AllerGen Success Stories: Spring 2013 (Vol. 5)

Click here to read the full issue

Can Helping “Preemies” Breath Easier Lead to Childhood Asthma?
Featuring: Dr. Cameron Mustard (University of Toronto)

Piecing Together a Protein Puzzle
Featuring: Dr. Kelly McNagny (University of British Columbia)

Drug Plans Can Impact Kids with Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Wendy Ungar (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Probiotics – Helpful or hoopla?
Featuring: Drs John Bienenstock & Paul Forsythe (McMaster University)

Joining Forces to Explore Occupational Allergies
Featuring: Dr. Linn Holness (University of Toronto)

ss4 AllerGen Success Stories: Spring 2012 (Vol. 4)

Click here to read the full issue

Predicting Allergies and Asthma in Babies—Pioneering Canadian Scientists Discover that Stem Cells are “Crystal Balls”
Featuring: Dr. Judah Denburg (McMaster University)

When is Your Child’s Wheeze a Sign of Asthma? Canadian Researchers Establish New Diagnostic Tests for Infants and Young Children
Featuring: Dr. Padmaja Subbarao (The Hospital for Sick Children)

Internationally Acclaimed Canadian Scientists Discover How Airway Cells Respond to Viruses and Air Pollution—Is a Revolutionary New Drug for Airway Diseases on the Horizon?
Featuring: Dr. Tony Bai (The University of British Columbia)

Using the Internet to Improve Education and Support for Canadian Children, Teens, and Parents Affected by Asthma and Allergies
Featuring: Featuring: Dr. Miriam Stewart (University of Alberta)

Asthma in the Workplace: Looking to Ease the Burden through Identification and Prevention
Featuring: Dr. Mieke Koehoorn (The University of British Columbia)

ss3 AllerGen Success Stories: Summer 2011 (Vol. 3)

Click here to read the full issue

Urine Samples Advance Asthma Diagnosis and Help Patients ‘Breathe Easy’
Featuring: Dr. Darryl Adamko (University of Alberta)

A New Generation of e-Learning Tools for Asthma Education
Featuring: Dr. Scott Tebbutt (The University of British Columbia) and Dr. Anthony Levinson (McMaster University)

The Global Search for Allergy and Asthma Genes: Genetic Testing, Counselling and Novel Therapies on the Horizon
Featuring: Dr. Peter Paré (The University of British Columbia)

The Front Lines: Studying Asthma During Early Childhood Development
Featuring: Dr. Stuart Turvey (The University of British Columbia)

Adults Raised in Poor Socioeconomic Circumstances Show Increased Susceptibility to Chronic Disease
Featuring: Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Edith Chen (The University of British Columbia)

ss2 AllerGen Success Stories: Spring 2011 (Vol. 2)

Click here to read the full issue

AllerGen Food Allergy and Food Labelling Research Team Supports Policy Updates to Enhance the Protection of Food Allergic Consumers
Featuring: Dr. Ann Clarke (McGill University) and Dr. Susan Elliott (University of Waterloo)

Using the World-Wide Web to Drive Asthma Genes Research Forward at High Speed
Featuring: Dr. Denise Daley (The University of British Columbia)

Teaching Kids with Asthma How to Take Charge of Their Health
Featuring: Dr. Allan Becker (University of Manitoba)

Mapping Air Pollution to Predict Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Michael Brauer (The University of British Columbia) and Dr. Ryan Allen (Simon Fraser University)

Unlocking the Secrets of Mind-Body Connections to Revolutionize Inflammatory and Allergic Disease Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Featuring: Dr. Dean Befus (University of Alberta), Dr. Ronald Mathison and Dr. Joseph Davison (University of Calgary)

ss1 AllerGen Success Stories: Fall 2010 (Vol. 1)

Click here to read the full issue

Babies’ Exposure to Phthalates in the Home: Developing a Profile of Allergy and Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Tim Takaro (Simon Fraser University)

A Tale of Horses and Humans: Lung Health Parallels
Featuring: Dr. Jean-Pierre Lavoie (University of Montreal)

International Drug Companies Line Up at AllerGen CIC’s Doorstep
Featuring: Dr. Paul O’Byrne (McMaster University)

Canadian Physicians and Basic Research Scientists Successfully Partner on Innovative Diagnostic Test to Predict Peanut Allergy
Featuring: Dr. Susan Waserman (McMaster University)

Children with Stressed-Out Mothers at Risk for Developing Asthma
Featuring: Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj (University of Alberta)