The Pryde Family Travel Grant provides two $500 grants for graduate students, medical students or healthcare professionals who have an interest in food allergy/anaphylaxis. The funds help to offset expenses for attending an academic program or event related to food allergy.
Read about our 2021 recipients, Connor Prosty and Rishma Chooniedass, who are using their grants to attend and present at two important conferences. Learn more about them below.
Meet Connor Prosty
Why are you interested in the field of food allergy/anaphylaxis?
My interest in food allergy and anaphylaxis began as a child because I am allergic to egg and tree nuts. As a result, I have a firm understanding of the impact that food allergy has on people. I am very interested in the field of allergy and anaphylaxis research in order to alleviate some of the challenges that patients with food allergy face.
How will you be using the grant?
I will use the grant to attend the 2022 American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Why did you choose this event? What are the anticipated benefits of your participation in relation to your educational goals?
The AAAAI conference brings together multi-disciplinary teams of allergy and immunology experts from around the world, which provides a unique learning opportunity for medical students like me. Moreover, the conference is an excellent opportunity to present my research in allergy and immunology.
What advancements in food allergy research excite you, and what can they mean for the food allergy community?
Omalizumab is an antibody that lowers levels of allergy inducing Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and has shown some promise in the treatment of food allergy. Its prospect as an adjunctive treatment, one used with oral immunotherapy (OIT), for the treatment of food allergy is a very exciting advancement and holds great potential for patients.
Meet Rishma Chooniedass
Why are you interested in the field of food allergy/anaphylaxis?
I began my nursing career in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health in Winnipeg, MB working with Dr. Allan Becker researching why children develop food allergies. One of the striking things I learned is that parents didn’t always use their epinephrine auto-injector when their child experienced an anaphylactic reaction. This inspired me to pursue my master’s degree in nursing, focusing on parents’ perceptions and experiences using epinephrine for their child’s anaphylactic reactions. I moved to Kelowna, BC a few years ago, and I am pleased to still work in this important area of health.
How will you be using the grant?
The money awarded from this grant was used to attend the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology Annual Conference.
Why did you choose this event? What are the anticipated benefits of your participation in relation to your educational goals?
I attended this event because it gave me the opportunity to present research that my colleagues and I conducted on the impact of food oral immunotherapy (OIT) on parents’ quality of life. I particularly enjoy attending these conferences because of the opportunity to learn from world-renowned experts in the field of allergy and clinical immunology. I have always found this an invaluable way to keep informed on the latest developments in the field, and a great way to get the inside scoop on the directions of future research.
What advancements in food allergy research excite you, and what can they mean for the food allergy community?
I’ve been working in the field of allergy and clinical immunology for almost two decades and I have seen many advancements. I am currently working with the Food Allergy Immunotherapy program at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital. It excites me to see preschool-aged children, who previously had a food allergy and experienced anaphylaxis to an allergen, progress in this program to successfully pass a food challenge.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I am excited and very hopeful for the future of food allergy.