Lay summary
Allergic and chronic inflammatory conditions impose an ever increasing health and economic burden on the developed and developing world. Allergic diseases are poorly understood and much critical detail of the immunological mechanisms involved when individuals become allergic to an allergen are not yet known. Our programme will seek to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are relevant to the development of an allergen sensitised individual and establish ways to use this knowledge for developing therapies or measures which will reduce the impact of allergic disease on our society. This programme will create in NZ a core of allergic disease committed immunologists, molecular biologists and disease modelling specialists supported by a world leading international scientific network. Research outputs from this group will target the currently unmet health needs of the youngest, those facing inequalities and working age members of NZ society which is currently the highest priority for HRC investment.