Who are we?
The Food Allergy in Children Research Priority Setting Partnership is a collaboration between the the James Lind Alliance and the University of Bristol, funded by the National Institute for Health Research. It is run by a Steering Group made up of representatives from different organisations involved in food allergy care and research, including patients and carers.
Matthew Ridd- GP & Professor of Primary Care
This PSP forms part of Matthew’s NIHR Research Professorship to accelerate work on the diagnosis and management of childhood skin conditions and allergy.
Roxanne Parslow- Research Fellow & Qualitative Methodologist
Will be responsible for the day to day running of the PSP, analysing the survey responses and categorising them into indicative questions.
Her youngest son has eczema and food allergies.
Jonathan Gower- James Lind Alliance Advisor
Has worked with a wide range of PSPs, including those for Children’s Cancer and Paediatric Irritable Bowel Disease in the Netherlands.
Alyson Huntley- Senior Research Fellow in Evidence Synthesis
Has previously co-led the Advanced Heart Failure PSP and will support the evidence checking stage of the PSP.
Mary Feeney- Paediatric Allergy Dietitian
Worked on the LEAP studies, investigating prevention of peanut allergy. Is a past chair of the BDA Food Allergy Specialist Group.
Alicia Kennedy- Chief Operating Officer of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
The Chief Operating Officer of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and supports the charity’s founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs and its Board of Trustees, actioning and overseeing all the operations of the Foundation, across its three pillars: research, education, and the law.
Holly Shaw- Nurse Advisor at Allergy UK
Nurse Advisor for Allergy UK a patient organisation supporting those with allergic disease providing subject matter expertise to the charity and clinical support to the Helpline and wider charity.
Previous experience of working in the research field on a world class research study ‘HealthNuts’ on pediatric food allergy (Murdoch Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia).
14 years acute experience in Emergency Nursing in the Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom.
Mary Kelly- Information Officer, Anaphylaxis UK
With a background in Biochemistry and a strong interest in immunology, Mary is part of the team responsible for creating, updating, and maintaining the various resources available on the charity’s website. Additionally, Mary works on the helpline, providing valuable to individuals seeking assistance with allergy-related queries.
Suzi Holland- Chief Executive Officer of Eczema Outreach Support
The Chief Executive Officer of Eczema Outreach Support, a charity supporting children with eczema and their families across the UK. Suzi has 20 years’ experience working in the third sector, particularly in the areas of health and youth. She is passionate about the transformative power of working together with people with lived experience to overcome the challenges they are facing.
Graham Roberts- Professor of Paediatric Allergy and Respiratory Medicine
Director of the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre on the Isle of Wight. He is Chair of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Adolescent and Young Adult Taskforce. Professor Roberts is President of the British Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Joanne Walsh- GP
GP working in Norwich. She has been involved in NICE guidelines, food allergy research, worked with Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis UK and has chaired the primary care group of BSACI.
Sara Brown- Professor of Dermatology
Professor of Dermatology and a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Her research is focussed on understanding genetic mechanisms in eczema and related conditions, including food allergies. Sara also works as a Consultant Dermatologist in NHS Lothian, caring for children and adults with eczema and other skin conditions.
Hora Soltani- Professor Maternal and Infant Health
Her research focuses on care models which promote health equity for disadvantaged groups particularly related to maternal nutrition and healthy lifestyle, infant feeding, perinatal mental health and migration.
Deb Marriage- Consultant nurse for allergy and asthma
Currently works at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where she has worked since 2002. She previously worked in allergy at St Mary’s Hospital, London. She enjoys research and her particular interests are in asthma, in egg and peanut allergies, and in looking at alternative ways of delivering healthcare.
Her daughter has a selective white fish allergy.
Amy Dobson- Child Nurse & Health Visitor
Currently completing PhD at the University of Southampton- works with families who have ‘unsettled babies’ and are often worried about food allergy or intolerance.
Emma Vaughan- Pharmacist
Specialist interest in food allergy, eczema and asthma as both her children have these conditions.
Gail Jackson- Parent of young person with allergies
Gail is a mum to two teenagers, one of who has suffered from severe food allergies since early childhood. Gail supported her daughter throughout her participation in a clinical trial focussed on immunotherapy (the BOPI study).
Liliana Jackson- Young adult with food allergies
Liliana was diagnosed with severe food allergies to peanuts and sesame seeds around the age of 2 and has been involved in an immunotherapy clinical trial at St Marys hospital known as BOPI, which has helped to increase her tolerance to peanuts and sesame.
Eden Byrne- Young adult with food allergies
Eden is 20 years old from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She has lived with food allergies to nuts and fish for her whole life and has also had long covid for 2 years. She is a youth social activist and is passionate about allowing young people to have a voice and have their say. She works with a number of different charities to do this and is passionate about making a difference. She hopes to work with children and young people in the future.
Lauren Gluyas- Midwife & parent to two toddlers with multiple allergies
Mum of two toddlers, with multiple allergies (IgE and non-IgE). I also work part-time as a midwife, splitting my time between being a diabetes specialist midwife and working on delivery suite.
Farzana Kausir- Parent of children with allergies