Systems Biology of Early Atopy (SUNBEAM)

The goal of this study is to establish a birth cohort that collects prenatal and early life biosamples and environmental samples and rigorously phenotypes young children for food allergy and Atopic Dermatitis (AD) to identify prenatal and early life markers of high risk for food allergy and AD, as well as biological pathways (endotypes) that result in these conditions.

Primary Objectives:

• To study the role and interrelationships of established and novel clinical, environmental, biological, and genetic prenatal and early-life factors in the development of allergic diseases through age 3 years, with an emphasis on atopic dermatitis and food allergy
• To apply systems biology to identify mechanisms and biomarkers underlying the development of food allergy, atopic dermatitis, and their endotypes
• To collect, process, and assay or store environmental and biological samples for current and future use in the study of allergic disease development

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Atopic Dermatitis; Food Allergy; Allergic Diseases

Detailed Description

This is a prospective cohort study in which pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy), the offspring's biologic father, and the offspring will be enrolled at study sites and the offspring will be observed from birth to age 3 years. The enrollment goal is at least 2500 pregnant women who agree to enroll their offspring at birth. Enrollment of biological fathers will be attempted; however, enrollment of the mother or child is not dependent on enrollment of the biological father.

During the study, biological and environmental samples and questionnaire information will be collected from the parents and the children, and the children will be assessed for allergic diseases at clinic visits at ages 2, 5, 12, 24, and 36 months.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 2500

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72202
      • Recruiting
      • Arkansas Children's Hospital
      • Contact: Cassandra Thomas; Phone Number: 501-364-5178; Email: ThomasC1@archildrens.org
      • Principal Investigator: Stacie M. Jones, MD
  • California
    • Stanford, California, United States, 94040
      • Recruiting
      • Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research at Stanford University
      • Principal Investigator: R. Sharon Chinthrajah, MD
      • Contact: Catherine Feight; Phone Number: 650-521-7237; Email: cfeight@stanford.edu
  • Colorado
    • Denver, Colorado, United States, 80206
      • Recruiting
      • National Jewish Health
      • Contact: Susan Leung, RN; Phone Number: 303-398-1549; Email: leungs@NJHealth.org
      • Principal Investigator: Donald Y.M. Leung, PhD, MD
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
      • Recruiting
      • Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Department of Allergy & Immunology
      • Contact: Kim Mudd, RN; Phone Number: 410-502-1711; Email: kmudd2@jhmi.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Robert Wood, MD
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Recruiting
      • Massachusetts General Hospital, Translational and Clinical Research Center
      • Principal Investigator: Wayne G. Shreffler, MD, PhD
      • Contact: Amber Ali; Phone Number: 575-779-2127; Email: aali30@mgh.harvard.edu
  • Michigan
    • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
      • Recruiting
      • Henry Ford Health System, Division of Allergy and Immunology
      • Principal Investigator: Christine C. Johnson, PhD, MPH
      • Contact: Amber Cyrus; Phone Number: 313-566-7774; Email: acyrus1@hfhs.org
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10029
      • Recruiting
      • Kravis Children's Hospital, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
      • Contact: Beth Mattucci; Phone Number: 212-241-6577; Email: beth.mattucci@mssm.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Scott H. Sicherer, MD
  • North Carolina
    • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
      • Recruiting
      • North Carolina Children's Hospital: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology
      • Sub-Investigator: Edwin H. Kim, MD, MS
      • Contact: Emily English; Phone Number: 919-962-4961; Email: Emilyp@email.unc.edu
  • Ohio
    • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45229
      • Recruiting
      • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
      • Contact: Pamela Groh, RN; Phone Number: 513-383-6016; Email: Pam.groh@cchmc.org
      • Principal Investigator: Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD
  • Tennessee
    • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
      • Recruiting
      • Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine
      • Principal Investigator: Leonard Bacharier, MD
      • Contact: Theresa Rogers; Phone Number: 615-343-1277; Email: theresa.j.rogers@vumc.org
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • Texas Children's Hospital
      • Contact: Daisy Tran Vita; Phone Number: 832-824-3640; Email: dxtran1@texaschildrens.org
      • Principal Investigator: Carla M. Davis, MD
  • Wisconsin
    • Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53792
      • Recruiting
      • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
      • Contact: Gina Crisafi, BS; Phone Number: 608-262-5240; Email: gmc@medicine.wisc.edu
      • Principal Investigator: James Gern, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 second and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will include pregnant women, their offspring from birth until age 3 years, and the offspring's biological father. Although biological fathers will be recruited, their enrollment is not required. The women will be recruited from OB/GYN and prenatal clinics and offices. Other than the eligibility criteria listed, women will not be selected by any criteria or characteristics. The intent is to recruit a study population of children of varying risks with regards to the development of allergic diseases. The rationale is to identify risk factors in the population for the development of allergic disease. Selection of pregnant women whose offspring are at an elevated risk of allergic disease would prevent the study of the risk factors used to select the women.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Pregnant Women-

Pregnant women who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for enrollment as study participants:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Able to understand the oral and written instructions associated with study visits and procedures and provide informed consent
3. Pregnant at any stage
4. Planning to give birth at a study-site designated center
5. Agrees to enroll offspring into the study at birth
6. In the case of multiple gestation, agrees to enroll only one child who will be selected by randomized birth order

Biological Fathers-

Biological fathers who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for enrollment as study participants:

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Able to understand the oral and written instructions associated with study visits and procedures and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Pregnant Women-

Pregnant women who meet any of these criteria are not eligible for enrollment:

1. Inability or unwillingness to comply with study protocol
2. Serious pregnancy complication (in the judgement of the investigator) prior to enrollment
3. Fetus has a major chromosomal anomaly
4. Plans to move and would not be available for in-person visits at a study site
5. Plans to give up her child for adoption at birth
6. Pregnancy is the result of an egg donation

Infants-

Infants who meet any of these criteria are not eligible for enrollment:

1. Delivered earlier than 34 weeks of gestation
2. Sibling already enrolled
3. Born with a significant birth defect or medical condition, and in the judgment of the investigators, participation is not in the infant's best interest

Biological Father-

1. Biological fathers who are unable or unwilling to comply with the study protocol as it pertains to the biological father's participation are not eligible for enrollment

----Note Regarding Legal Guardians who are not the Biological Parents:

1. At screening for enrollment of either the mother or the child, if the biological mother intends to give the infant up for adoption, neither the mother nor the child are eligible for enrollment

2. If the biological mother gives up legal guardianship of the child during the child's follow-up period, the child may remain enrolled as long as the new legal guardian:

   • Agrees to meet the child's study requirements, and
   • Provides written informed consent for the child's continued participation.
3. Throughout the protocol where it refers to the mother, father, or parent answering questionnaires about the child or collecting samples from the child and the child's primary home, the legal guardian who provides consent for the child's participation may complete those procedures

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-Mediated, Immediate-Type Food Allergy	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's IgE-mediated, immediate-type food allergy. Based upon clinical assessments and diagnostic criteria for food allergy, in accordance with the Food Allergy Algorithm, per protocol.	From 5 months to 36 months of age
Incidence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD)	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's atopic dermatitis (AD). Atopic dermatitis is defined as the following since the last assessment (or since birth for the 2- and 5-month visits): A history of a dry or itchy rash that is (a) either continuous or intermittent lasting at least 4 weeks OR (b) requiring medicated treatment AND; The rash was or is present in the skin creases (folds of elbows, behind the knees, fronts of ankles, or around the neck) or on the extensor aspects of the forearms or lower legs or on cheeks or trunk. Any infant fulfilling these criteria but who, on examination by a suitably trained health professional, is deemed to have a different skin disease that explains the above findings will be classified as not having atopic dermatitis.	From 2 months to 36 months of age

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of Sensitization to Protocol-Specified Foods	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's food allergy. Sensitization to food allergens will be assessed using standard diagnostic methods: serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) testing and skin prick testing.	From 5 months to 36 months of age
Incidence of Sensitization to Aeroallergens	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's sensitization to aeroallergens, a risk factor for the development and severity of asthma. Sensitization to aeroallergens will be assessed using standard diagnostic methods: serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) testing and skin prick testing.	From12 months to 36 months of age
Incidence of Recurrent Wheeze	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's recurrent wheezing. Recurrent wheeze, assessed at age 3 years, will be defined as at least two episodes of wheezing during the first three years of life, with at least one episode between the ages of 24 and 36 months	Up to 36 months of age
Incidence of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's seasonal allergic rhinitis, a seasonal allergic reaction to pollen. Defined by diagnostic criteria established for the Inner-City Asthma Consortium, per protocol.	From 24 to 36 months of age
Incidence of Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, a form of eye allergy. Defined by diagnostic criteria established for the Inner-City Asthma Consortium, per protocol.	From 24 to 36 months of age
Incidence of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's perennial allergic rhinitis, characterized by nasal symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose that are present year round. Defined by diagnostic criteria established for the Inner-City Asthma Consortium, per protocol.	From 24 to 36 months of age
Incidence of Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis	To understand the early life origin and risk factors of child's perennial allergic rhinitis, characterized by nasal symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose that are present year round. Defined by diagnostic criteria established for the Inner-City Asthma Consortium, per protocol.	From 24 to 36 months of age

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Collaborators: Rho Federal Systems Division, Inc.; Consortium for Food Allergy Research
• Investigators: Study Chair: Corinne Keet, MD,MS,PhD, Div.of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Study Chair: Scott H. Sicherer, MD, Div. of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute,Dept. of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 18, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: risk factors; birth cohort; systems biology
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Dermatitis; Food Hypersensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: DAIT CoFAR-12; NIAID CRMS ID#: (Other Identifier: 38710); UM2AI130836 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No