Annika Scheynius

Allergic diseases such as rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and atopic eczema are examples of unwanted immune reactions. Today they are one of the commonest causes of chronic ill health why there is a great need for novel initiatives within health care for prevention, specific diagnosis and treatment. Besides personal suffering allergic diseases cause heavy health care costs. Allergic diseases are likely to result from defects in the immune system with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to the symptoms.

The overall objectives of our research are:

i) to elucidate mechanisms that determine whether or not an exposed individual will become sensitized to allergens with a focus on host-microbe and gene-environment interactions, and

ii) to provide knowledge on how the body's own regulatory mechanisms in combination with nanotechnology-based systems can be used for prevention and treatment.