McMaster-based AllerGen Network chosen as newest NCE from field of five proposals

The Networks of Centres of Excellence has chosen the McMaster Univ- headquartered AllerGen as its newest Network in a competition restricted to just one winner by severe fiscal constraints. AllerGen (Allergy, Genes and Environment Network) was chosen from a field of five full proposals culled from 12 letters of intent. It will receive funding of approximately $4-5 million annually beginning in FY05-06.

Unless the NCE program secures new funding, it won’t be able to mount a new competition until 2009. The funding crunch is prompting NCE administrators to consider proposing a pilot program to allow the funding of components of the other four contenders that were unsuccessful.

AllerGen will be led by scientific director Dr Judah Denburg, a professor of medicine at McMaster and director and chief of ervice of clinical immunology and allergy at the McMaster University Medical Centre. The Network will coordinate the activities of researchers, health care providers, government agencies, physicians and groups representing allergy suffers. It will link 120 academic researchers at 14 universities and include 50 Canadian and international partners. AllerGen will focus on new genetic and other diagnostic tests for allergies as well as developing health and workplace safety policies.

In the area of skills, AllerGen will address the dire shortage of allergists and allergy disease researchers with the goal of doubling the number of highly qualified clinical specialists in the field.

The NCE program also announced the results of a mid-term review (see page 7).

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