Cincinnati Children's Asthma Research

Our researchers have identified eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) as the fifth member of the atopic march. New research from Cincinnati Children's shows that children who develop atopic dermatitis (AD) within the first two years of life are 10× more likely to develop EoE by age 8—particularly those with early food allergies. All children with AD who developed EoE also had at least one food allergy, with milk allergy showing the strongest association. Recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, this study expands how clinicians understand allergic disease progression and underscores the importance of proactive screening for EoE in children with early‑onset atopic disease. Read more about how this work could improve clinical awareness and care: https://lnkd.in/eer79yxg Research led by Jocelyn Biagini, Daisy Chang, Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD, and Marc Rothenberg. #PediatricResearch #AllergyResearch #AtopicMarch #EosinophilicEsophagitis

📈 Expanding the Atopic March New research from the Division of Asthma Research at Cincinnati Children’s suggests that eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) should be included in the atopic march—the progression of allergic diseases that often begins in early childhood. Key findings from the study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: 👶 Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) in the first two years of life were 10 times more likely to develop EoE by age 8 🤧 EoE occurred alongside other allergic conditions—every child with EoE had at least one food allergy 🥛 Milk allergy showed the strongest association with EoE among foods studied By recognizing EoE as part of the atopic march, clinicians may be better equipped to support earlier awareness and proactive screening for children with early‑onset allergic disease. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ecegibfp Read the science blog: https://lnkd.in/eer79yxg Jocelyn Biagini Daisy Chang Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD #WeAreCincyKids #AtopicMarch #AsthmaResearch #EosinophilicEsophagitis

New research published in EAACI PAI Journal - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology shows that socioeconomic deprivation (SED) indices—reflecting a child’s lived environment—predict asthma risk as accurately as self-reported race. Led by Jocelyn Biagini, PhD, with Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD as senior and corresponding author, the study highlights how a child’s environment can shape asthma risk and guide more targeted prevention and intervention strategies. It also represents an important shift toward data-driven, unbiased prediction tools for asthma. The paper was recently selected by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - EAACI’s Junior Members Assembly as a “Must Read” for allergy trainees. ➡️ Learn more on our science blog: https://lnkd.in/eEcKTZF6 #AsthmaResearch #PediatricResearch #EnvironmentalHealth #HealthEquity #AllergyAndImmunology

🌟 A Must Read: Updating How We Predict Childhood Asthma A recent publication in EAACI PAI Journal - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and Immunology highlights a major step forward in asthma prediction. Researchers in our division found that socioeconomic deprivation (SED) indices—reflecting a child’s lived environment—predict asthma risk just as accurately as self‑reported race. Why this matters: 🏡 Neighborhood conditions influence asthma development ⚖️ Replacing race with SED maintains predictive accuracy of the asthma risk prediction tool 📈 The revised tool reduces reliance on race-based proxies and enhances utility on an individual level Importantly, this study shows that the environment where a child lives can impact their risk of becoming asthmatic. This work represents an important shift toward data‑driven, unbiassed prediction tools and opens the door to future studies in more geographically diverse populations. 📖 Read the full study in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology: https://lnkd.in/es2mD82S And our full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eEcKTZF6 Jocelyn Biagini Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD #AsthmaResearch #AsthmaPrediction #WeAreCincyKids

💚 Our lab has gone green! We're making real and impactful changes to decrease the environmental footprint of our research by joining the #MyGreenLabCertification Program run by non profit @My Green Lab. 🎉 After a thorough online assessment of our lab practices, equipment, waste, and procurement, we were awarded the highest level 'Green' certificate! 🌎We have also joined a network of hundreds of certified green labs all over the world. We encourage others to sign up for this fantastic program: bit.ly/greenlabcert #LabSustainability #GoGreen #AsthmaResearch #WeAreCincyKids

📈 Is it possible to predict whether children with atopic dermatitis will develop asthma or other allergic diseases? Researchers in our division are working to answer that question. 🔬 The Khurana Hershey Lab is investigating how genetics, environmental exposures and immune responses influence the progression of allergic diseases in children with atopic dermatitis. 🎞️ This video walks through their longitudinal cohort study and the key factors under investigation. 🔗 Learn more about the Khurana Hershey Lab: https://lnkd.in/gCRxZr_w Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD #Asthma #AsthmaResearch #AllergyAwareness #ScienceExplained #MedicalIllustration #AtopicDermatitis #SciComm #ScienceCommunication #WeAreCincyKids

🚨 Critical New Finding: EoE in the Atopic March Researchers in the Division of Asthma Research have uncovered new evidence supporting the inclusion of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) as the 5th member of the atopic march. In our recent pre-print, we analyzed data from the MPAACH cohort to explore how EoE develops in children with early allergic conditions. Key Findings: 🚼 Early-life atopic dermatitis (AD) is a risk factor for EoE 🤧 All children who developed EoE had at least one other allergic comorbidity besides AD 📈 Our data support EoE’s inclusion in the atopic march These findings highlight the need for early screening and clinical awareness of EoE in children with allergic manifestations. Read the full pre-print: https://lnkd.in/gZ5_x2WE Jocelyn Biagini Gurjit (Neeru) Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD Latha Satish Lisa Martin Marc Rothenberg #WeAreCincyKids #AsthmaResearch #AtopicMarch #EosinophilicEsophagitis #AtopicDermatitis #EoE

A new review co-authored by Jocelyn Biagini explores the many factors that influence whether young children with recurrent wheeze go on to develop asthma. Do you know a child who wheezes frequently? While wheeze is common in preschoolers, not all children with wheeze develop asthma. This review highlights key risk factors and mechanisms that help researchers and clinicians understand which children are most at risk—and why. These insights are essential for improving early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies. Key Risk Factors for Preschool Wheeze and Asthma: 🧬 Biological, Genetic, and Familial: Family history of asthma, male sex, food or pet allergies 🌆 Environmental and Socioeconomic: Exposure to second-hand smoke, traffic pollution, poor indoor air quality 👶 Early-Life Exposures: Preeclampsia, excessive gestational weight gain, maternal diet during pregnancy, early antibiotic use 👯 Behavioral and Social: Having older siblings, limited social support, low fruit intake, high fast-food consumption, frequent paracetamol use 💉 Medical History: Severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization, food allergies, allergic rhinitis ⏰ Parental and Prenatal Stress: Parental PTSD or depression during the child’s first year The authors also delve into genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, non-invasive biomarkers like eosinophil counts, and more invasive methods such as lower airway tissue sampling to better understand wheezing phenotypes. They emphasize the importance of defining lung function abnormalities in preschoolers to support early asthma diagnosis. 🔍 Read the full review: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice: https://lnkd.in/gszWkN6p PubMed Central: https://lnkd.in/gMb6XbPE

We’re thrilled to recognize several talented members of our division who presented their research posters at the Ohio River Valley Cytometry Association’s Imaging and Cytometry Research Day! Their work highlights the power of cytometry and imaging to drive discovery and deepen our understanding of complex biological systems. 👏 Congratulations to Ben Freudenberg and Allison Richey Thank you to ORVCA for fostering such a vibrant and collaborative research community. We’re proud to be part of it! #ORVCA2025 #Cytometry #ImagingResearch #TeamScience #AsthmaResearch #WeAreCincyKids