HealthNuts
The HealthNuts study of 5,300 children is the world’s first comprehensive population-based study of food allergy with an objective measurement of true food allergy. The study will enable researchers to better understand the natural history of allergic disorders including food allergy, asthma, eczema and hay fever and the risk factors for developing these conditions in the first six years of life. The study will have important implications for clinical guidelines and public health policy.
Participants who were food allergic at wave 1 food challenge or who indicated the presence of new food allergy symptoms since wave 1 were invited to participate in the clinical sub-sample, which included food challenge assessments.
In the below tables:
(a) – data collected for whole sample
(b) – additional data collected for clinic/food challenge subsample
| Study Summary | |
|---|---|
| Study name | HealthNuts |
| Study abbreviation | HealthNuts |
| Current principal investigator/s |
Rachel Peters (MCRI) |
| Primary Institution/s |
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute - MCRI |
| Collaborating Institution/s |
The Royal Children’s Hospital - RCH The University of Melbourne - UoM |
| Major funding source/s |
National Health and Medical Research Council - NHMRC IIhan Food Allergy Foundation AnaphylaxiStop Australian Egg Corporation Pty. US Department of Defense |
| Study website | https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/healthnuts |
| Key reference for study | Osborne, N.J., Koplin, J.J., Martin, P.E., Gurrin, L.C., Thiele, L., Tang, M.L., Ponsonby, A-L., Dharmage, S.C. and Allen, K.J., for HealthNuts Study Investigators. (2010). The HealthNuts population-based study of paediatric food allergy: validity, safety and acceptability. Clin Exp Allergy, 40(10): 1516-22 |
| Study focus |
A comprehensive population-based study of food allergy with an objective measurement of true food allergy, to better understand the natural history of, and risk factors for, allergic disorders.
|
| Sampling frame |
12-month-old infants presenting for routine scheduled vaccination at local government-led immunisation clinics across Melbourne, Australia.
|
| Primary study type | Longitudinal cohort |
| Year commenced |
2007
|
| Is this study ongoing? | Yes - the study is ongoing |
| Ongoing recruitment? | No |
| Sample size (N) |
5300
|
| Survey data available? | Yes |
| Imaging data available? | No |
| Linkage to administrative dataset/s? | Yes, linkage to (at least one) administrative dataset completed |
| Biosamples available? | Yes |
| Are data available to others outside study team, with appropriate safeguards and structures in line with the cohort’s ethics and governance processes? | Yes |
| Are there any costs associated with data/sample access for approved requests? | There are usually no costs associated with access |
| Broadest type of participant consent available |
Extended consent (can be used for future ethically approved research related to this project) |
| Wave | Year | Age | Sample size (N) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2007-2010 | 12 months | |
| 2a | 2011-2014 | 4 years | |
| 2b | 2011-2014 | 4 years | |
| 3a | 2013-2016 | 6 years | |
| 3b | 2013-2016 | 6 years | |
| 4a | 2016-2020 | 10 years | |
| 4b | 2016-2020 | 10 years | |
| 5 | 2022-Ongoing | 15 years | IN PROGRESS |
| Substudy: COVID Immune (Baseline) | 2020 | 10-14 years | |
| Substudy: COVID Immune (Follow-Up) | 2021-Ongoing | 11-15 years | IN PROGRESS |
| Study Contacts | |
|---|---|
| Principal investigator/s |
Rachel Peters (MCRI) |
| Study Contact |
Ph: +61 3 8341 6266 |