[climate Change and Allergic Airway Disease] Observational,laboratory, and Modeling Studies of the Impacts of Climate Change Onallergic Airway Disease

Global change affects allergic airway disease (AAD) through changes in exposure to pollen-associated allergens and changes in sensitivity to the allergens. This project proposes to better characterize the mechanisms involved. Investigators will (1) Develop a regional atmospheric dynamic model of pollen production, distribution and dispersion; (2) Develop a population exposure and dose model for estimating pollen exposures (3) Generate pollen phenology from the existing 25 years database from the existing certified 74 U.S. pollen counting stations; (4) Use the regional model to determine how climate change over the next 50 years will change pollen production, distribution, dispersion, and subsequently exposures; and (5) Determine the impact of climate change on pollen allergenicity (allergen content) of various species of plants (grasses, weeds, and trees) using plant chamber and transects with in vitro (immunological, molecular plant genomics) and in vivo (human skin testing) techniques.