ACAAI community grant projects explore innovative ways to address barriers to care

(Press-News.org) ORLANDO (Nov. 6, 2025) – Starting in 2021, The Allergists’ Foundation—the philanthropic arm of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)—began supporting innovative initiatives designed to tackle challenges within communities served by practicing allergists.

Grants are offered in two main categories:

Planning/exploratory projects – Up to $10,000 for 12 months to explore issues that are not yet well understood and require data collection. Implementation projects – Up to $25,000 for 24 months to advance projects where initial data and planning are already in place, helping move them to the next stage. This year, six grantees will share their project outcomes at the ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando. These awards are made possible through the generosity of College members and additional support from GSK.

“We received an enthusiastic response to our Community Grant Program call for proposals, which made the selection process both exciting and challenging,” said Todd Mahr, MD, ACAAI Executive Medical Director and chair of the Foundation’s Grants Allocation Committee. “The creativity and quality of the proposals have been outstanding, and we’re eager to see even more innovative ideas in future grant cycles.”

An introduction to each project presented at this year’s meeting is provided below:

R115
LEVERAGING MACHINE LEARNING TO DIFFERENTIATE SUBTYPES OF ANGIOEDEMA

Introduction: Hereditary angioedema (HAE types I and II) is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder resulting in bradykinin-mediated angioedema. The clinical diagnosis of HAE types I and II can be challenging due to a multitude of factors including: overlapping or misattribution of symptoms. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may assist in differentiating between HAE types I and II from mast-cell mediated angioedema.

R147

TREATMENT FOR MILD ASTHMA: WHAT MATTERS TO PROVIDERS
Introduction: Provider knowledge and practice patterns in mild asthma are not well described. We evaluated provider behaviors in mild asthma to identify differences between specialists and generalists, and levels of training.

R155
ASTHMA IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTATION OF STOCK INHALER PROGRAMMING
Introduction: In Chicago, asthma rates are disproportionately high compared to the rest of Illinois. Rescue inhaler access is more difficult among historically marginalized populations, which impacts attendance and academic achievement. The objective of this study was to assess asthma rates among schools in the context of a stock inhaler pilot program in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

R210
A NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR FEMALE CARRIERS OF CHRONIC GRANULOMATOUS DISEASE: AN UPDATE
Introduction: Female carriers of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (XLCGD), a rare inborn error of immunity, frequently experience infections, inflammation, and autoimmunity. No registry exists to advance understanding and management of XLCGD carriers.

Methods: 45 XLCGD carriers were enrolled in the Registry for Autoimmunity and Infections in Chronic Granulomatous Disease Carriers: Surveillance and Evaluation (RAISE) REDCap® survey.

R279
GLOBAL SEARCH ENGINE POWERED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES
Introduction: Technology is increasingly integrated into clinical practice, with digital tools playing a growing role in patient care. This qualitative study explored how allergists use patient resources, their perspectives on the utility and limitations of AI-powered food search tools, and how such platforms may influence food allergy management.

R304

FOOD INSECURITY SCREENING AND SUPPORT FOR PEDIATRIC ALLERGY PATIENTS IN THE SEATTLE AREA
Introduction: Early introduction of foods is critical to prevent food allergies but is a challenge for families with food insecurity. Prior studies suggest that children with food allergies are at increased risk of food insecurity. Validated screening measures for food insecurity exist but are not often used by allergists. We aimed to improve the implementation of food insecurity screening and support for pediatric allergy patients. 

For more information about allergies and asthma, or to find an allergist in your area, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting is Nov. 6-10. For more news and research from the ACAAI Scientific Meeting, go to our newsroom and follow the conversation on X/Twitter #ACAAI25.

About ACAAI

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. Founded in 1942, the College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Threads and X.

 

 

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