allergy and autoimmunity

Group Leader - A/Professor Mimi Tang

Autoimmunity is a situation in which the immune system goes awry, causing damage to itself. Allergic and autoimmune disorders share a common origin with a failure or loss of immune tolerance, and means the immune system does not attack an antigen.  Prevalence rates for both disorders have risen dramatically in the last half a century, particularly in Western countries.

What has caused this dramatic increase?  Studies suggest that environmental exposures related to a Western lifestyle encountered during pregnancy and just after birth are major risk factors. In particular, reduced exposure to germs associated with improved living conditions may play a crucial role in the breakdown of immune tolerance leading to allergic and autoimmune disorders.

The Allergy and Autoimmunity Affinity Group brings together public health, clinical and laboratory research expertise in both allergy and autoimmunity to understand the environmental factors that modify the risk of developing these disorders, and the relevant gene-environment interactions involved.

By sharing ideas, knowledge and resources across these two linked research areas the Affinity Group aims to extend research initiatives and platforms and develop translational clinical outcomes.