Winslow Research Lab

The Winslow Lab researches health disparities and outcomes in pediatric allergy using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The focus of our current research program includes penicillin allergy delabeling interventions and food allergy disparities, specifically regarding oral immunotherapy participation.

Penicillin Allergy Decision and Mobile Empowerment (PADME) Improving Access to Penicillin Allergy Delabeling

To help families with unverified penicillin allergy label, Dr. Winslow co-designed a Penicillin Allergy Decision and Mobile Empowerment (PADME) virtual risk assessment tool with Dr. Kwan at the University of North Carolina. PADME can be particularly useful when access to allergy specialists is limited. After completing the simple online assessment, an individual will receive a personalized risk certificate to share with primary care and allergy doctors and be guided through the next steps necessary for removing or testing a penicillin allergy label. Read the blog post, Why Your Child Most Likely Does Not Have A Penicillin Allergy.

Disparities in Oral Immunotherapy Participation

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) offers a potentially life-altering alternative to passive allergen avoidance. In OIT, patients with a food allergy ingest a gradually escalating, measured portion of food allergen under the supervision of an allergy provider and then remain on a daily maintenance dose of the target food allergen in order to generate protective immunologic changes that promote desensitization to the respective food allergen. OIT reduces the risk for an accidental ingestion to cause a life-threatening allergic reaction, thereby improving quality of life and integration in activities that were previously avoided due to the unwelcome risk (e.g., restaurants, camps). OIT is offered nationwide at private practices and a few academic centers as part of routine clinical practice and through clinical trials, often in conjunction with administration of immunologic biologics. Yet, preliminary data indicate that racial and socioeconomic disparities exist among patients with food allergy who elect to start OIT and those who do not. We are investigating these disparities and what patient, patient / family, and provider factors affect pediatric OIT participation.