FARI

The goal of FARI is to determine the causes of food allergy and to develop an effective treatment for food allergies.

Financial support is vital to continue Food Allergy research that will help scientists solve the mysteries of food allergies.  Tax-deductible gifts may be made through this website, phone, fax or mail.  Click here to DONATE NOW on our secure website (click on FARI in the drop-down menu) or make checks payable to FARI and mail to:

FARI                                                                                                                             P.O. Box 408                                                                                                                 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004                                                                                                Phone: 215-871-6120/Toll free: 800-739-3939/Fax: 215-871-6317

C. Scott Little, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, is a leading scientist who studies the immune system and has focused his knowledge and effort on food allergies, particularly peanut allergy.  Dr. Little is tackling what has become a dreadful epidemic for so many children.  The goal of his research is to identify and target key cells of the immune system and use immune modulation to alter the response of cells.  This should result in decreasing the severity of allergic reactions following exposure to peanuts.  In theory, this approach would be applicable to a number of different food allergies.

FARI research includes a wide range of food allergies.

Dr. Little's experiments in an animal model of peanut allergy are testing cells isolated from peanut-sensitized (allergic) mice and use immune modulation to decrease the severity of allergic responses.  These allergic responses include IgE production and histamine release, and the research looks to produce an effective experimental approach that will initiate preliminary experiments utilizing human cells (white blood cells isolated from allergic individuals).

FARI was established in 2008, by Lita Indzel Cohen, Esq. who says:

"I am confronting my most important challenge.  My little grandson, Jason, is one of thousands of children who is highly allergic to peanuts.  Many other children have severe food allergies.  We can never be certain whether the food these children are eating contains even miniscule traces of peanuts or other allergens.  Further, if Jason even touches peanut products that someone has left behind, and then he places his hands in his mouth or rubs his eyes, it could cause an anaphylactic reaction where his throat closes and he cannot breathe.  Whenever I'm with Jason, I must carry Benadryl, two Epi-pens and a cell phone to call 911 for immediate help.  Other children with various food allergies have similar, possibly fatal reactions.  I have made a personal commitment to this new fund.  I am asking you to please join our team established solely to support this important research." 

Ms. Cohen of Merion Station, PA, is a former five-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1993-2002) for the 148th District of Montgomery County.  She has been a member of the PCOM Board of Trustees since 2003.