Welcome to the Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Program
Transformative Care for Food Allergies
In 2017, Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal opened the first hospital-based oral immunotherapy (OIT) program in Canada, funded partly by donations and partly by the Quebec government. Dr Edmond Chan immediately struck a parent committee (OITforBC) to fundraise for a similar program at BC Children's Hospital (BCCH), with the support of the BCCH Foundation.
Since 2017, OITforBC has raised a significant amount of generous donations, resulting in the creation of a program dedicated to studying the implementation of food immunotherapy into clinical practice. Our team has grown to include several allergists, a research manager, a program secretary, research nurses, a research psychologist, and a research dietitian. In its short history, the program — in conjunction with national collaborators — has provided clear evidence of the safety and effectiveness of preschool peanut OIT, with many associated projects underway.
Donate to the Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Program
Our Mission
The mission of the Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Program is to study the implementation of safe and standardized food immunotherapy protocols in the real world, within the context of our publicly funded health care system.
Although many food immunotherapy clinical trials have been published, there remains uncertainty with how to deliver it to carefully selected patients in whom the benefits outweigh the risks. In BC and beyond, waiting lists for food immunotherapy are often long, and innovative solutions to expanding access in a cost-effective manner are needed, including to patients living in remote areas and patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds. As a consequence of COVID-19, one such solution we are studying is the use of virtual care to deliver safe forms of food immunotherapy. We hope for a future where patients for whom food immunotherapy is a good fit can benefit from improvements in quality of life, and prevention of anxiety, bullying, and social isolation.
Supporters of the Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Program
Our generous donors:
OITforBC, BC Children's Hospital, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Pfizer (unrestricted educational grant)
