Albanese Labor Government Funds Groundbreaking Program to Help Babies with Peanut Allergy

Strategic Insights -

The Albanese Labor Government has initiated a groundbreaking new program to support babies with peanut allergies through funding the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) to deliver the ADAPT Oral Immunotherapy Program. This novel approach aims to change the treatment paradigm for peanut allergy, shifting from strict avoidance to safely building a tolerance to the allergen and achieving remission. The program will be rolled out in 10 paediatric hospitals across five states, offering free oral immunotherapy treatment to children under the age of one diagnosed with peanut allergy and receiving care by an allergist at one of the participating hospitals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Albanese Labor Government is funding the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) with $27 million to establish the National Allergy Centre of Excellence and a National Allergy Council to drive Australia's response to allergies.
  • The NACE, hosted by Murdoch Children's Research Institute, has partnered with 10 paediatric hospitals across five states to launch the ADAPT Oral Immunotherapy Program.
  • The program aims to change the way peanut allergy is treated, moving from strictly avoiding peanuts in diets to safely building a tolerance to the allergen and achieving remission.
  • The oral immunotherapy treatment will be free for children under the age of one who are diagnosed with peanut allergy and receiving care by an allergist at one of the participating hospitals.
  • Participating hospitals include: Royal Children's Hospital (VIC); Perth Children's Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital (WA); Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD); Women's and Children's Health Network (SA); Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (NSW); The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW); John Hunter Children's Hospital Newcastle (NSW); Campbelltown Hospital (NSW); and The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW).
  • According to the Australian Department of Health, at one year of age, about three in 100 children are allergic to peanuts.
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute received $2.5 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme to fund the Centre for Food Allergy Research.

Statistics:

  • $27 million has been allocated by the Albanese Labor Government to fund the National Allergy Centre of Excellence and a National Allergy Council.
  • The National Allergy Centre of Excellence will partner with 10 paediatric hospitals across five states to deliver the ADAPT Oral Immunotherapy Program.
  • $2.5 million has been awarded to Murdoch Children's Research Institute through the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme.
  • At one year of age, about three in 100 children are allergic to peanuts.

Sources:

  • Department of Health (Canberra)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute
  • Royal Children's Hospital (VIC)
  • Perth Children's Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital (WA)
  • Queensland Children's Hospital (QLD)
  • Women's and Children's Health Network (SA)
  • Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (NSW)
  • The Children's Hospital at Westmead (NSW)
  • John Hunter Children's Hospital Newcastle (NSW)
  • Campbelltown Hospital (NSW)
  • The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (NSW)