First charity award presented for allergy research

5:21am Monday 28th July 2008

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SOUTHAMPTON'S AAIR Charity (Asthma, Allergy & inflammation Research) has created a prestigious award to recognise remarkable personal achievement in the field of education in allergic disease.

Called the Holgate AAIR prize for Excellence in Allergy, it salutes Southampton University students who have achieved a rare distinction for an MSc in allergy.

The first to receive the accolade was Johanne Bonner who was presented with the award by AAIR chairman and one of the world's leading figures in the fight against asthma and allergic disease - Professor Stephen Holgate.

Southampton University's MSc Allergy programme provides an in-depth study of allergic disease.

It is the only one of its kind in the world and has been running since 2000.

Prof Holgate said: "The MSc in allergy has run for eight years and has helped promote good practice throughout the UK.

"However this year we have one special student who has excelled throughout the four years she has been on our course.

"It is essential that industry and academia work closely together in the development of new treatments for allergy sufferers and to ensure that basic research is translated into practice."

As well as the award Johanne, 34, from Worthing, received a cheque for £250 donated by the MSc Programme.

AAIR is based at Southampton General Hospital and is vital in raising funds to help ensure Southampton's world-renowned asthma and allergy research centre remains at the forefront of global asthma and allergy research.