A new clinical trial has been launched in the UK to prevent children from developing food allergies. The Stopping Eczema and Allergy (SEAL) trial, conducted by experts at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College London, is now open for babies aged from birth to 12 weeks who show signs of dry skin or eczema.
Research has shown that babies who develop eczema before the age of three months and require prescribed steroids are 50% more likely to develop food allergies. The SEAL trial aims to prevent this by restoring the skin barrier to stop the transfer of food allergens through the skin.
Dr. Farhana Rahman, a GP from south Croydon, is hopeful that her eight-week-old daughter, Yusra, will benefit from the trial. As a mother with eczema and allergies, she wants to reduce the risk of her baby developing food allergies and feels reassured that they will be closely monitored throughout the two-year trial period.
Participants in the trial will be regularly reviewed by the clinical team at Evelina London’s specialist allergy research center and undergo annual food allergy testing until the age of two. Professor Helen Brough, a pediatric allergy expert at Evelina London and King’s College London, is leading the trial and hopes it will have a positive impact on future generations.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in the SEAL clinical trial or would like more information, you can reach out via email at gst-tr.sealstudy@nhs.net. This groundbreaking research aims to make a difference in preventing food allergies in children and providing peace of mind for parents like Dr. Rahman.
