User:Acl92886/FARE

= Food Allergy Research & Education = Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2012 by the merger between the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI). Headquartered in McLean, VA, with five regional offices, FARE is a national organization dedicated to food allergy research, education, advocacy and awareness. FARE works on behalf of the 15 million Americans living with food allergies, including all those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis.

FARE also serves as a founder and coordinating organization for the  International Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance, a group of patient education organizations that collaborate on food allergy issues from a more global perspective.

Research
Currently, there is no cure for food allergy, and the only way for individuals with food allergy to stay safe is to avoid their allergen completely. Research is being conducted throughout the world to find a cure or therapies for food allergy. In 2012, FARE provided more than 5 million dollars in funding for food allergy research. FARE invests in basic and clinical research to develop new therapies that protect individuals with food allergies against life-threatening reactions, to discover the cause of food allergies, to understand the economic and psychosocial impact of this disease, and, ultimately, to find a cure.

FARE’s research vision is set forth in a strategic plan, developed in collaboration with researchers and senior government officials, industry representatives, and food allergy advocates. The three pillars of the research strategy, titled “A Vision and Plan for Food Allergy Research,” are: FARE’s Research Advisory Board, which comprises leading experts in the field, identifies and recommends funding for studies of the highest quality that will advance the goals set forth in our strategic plan. All grant applications are peer-reviewed.
 * Develop a strategy and infrastructure.
 * Develop the scientific understanding, tools, and resources necessary to facilitate research that will build a pipeline of new therapies.
 * Attract investigators to the field of food allergy and develop their careers.

Education
FARE provides information, training, and educational resources to individuals and families managing food allergies; caregivers; educators and administrators; health professionals; members of the restaurant, foodservice and manufacturing industries; and others to teach individuals how to effectively manage their food allergies, how to keep individuals with food allergies safe and included and how to help reduce the number of food allergy reactions. In the United States, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room every three minutes. FARE hosts an annual Food Allergy Conference, a Teen Summit and monthly webinars, and publishes a bi-monthly email update, a quarterly newsletter, and a blog to keep members of the food allergy community informed. FARE’s website (www.foodallergy.org) provides free educational information about food allergies, legislative and research updates, and resources for patients, parents, teachers, restaurants, schools, colleges, camps, food manufacturers and healthcare professionals. In early 2014, FARE launched the FARE College Food Allergy Program, aimed at providing students with food allergies a safer college experience by helping colleges and universities develop uniform policies to effectively manage food allergies. FARE has also partnered with the National Restaurant Association and MenuTrinfo on restaurant food allergen training programs and has launched an online resource center, found at www.safefare.org, aimed at making dining out safer and more enjoyable for diners.

Medical information disseminated by FARE is reviewed for accuracy by its Medical Advisory Board, composed of the world’s leading medical authorities in the area of food allergy.

Advocacy
FARE advocates for national, state and local policies that improve safety and quality of life for individuals with food allergies. FARE is active in issues involving federal research funding, school policies, food labeling, restaurant regulations, emergency medical services and airline travel. FARE successfully advocated for the passage of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, signed into law by President Obama on November 13, 2013, which encourage states to adopt laws allowing schools to have on hand “stock” epinephrine auto-injectors. On a local level, FARE helps summer camps, child care centers, recreational facilities, colleges/universities, and public/private schools develop policies and approaches with the food allergy community in mind.

Awareness
Through media, campaigns and awareness programs, FARE works to increase awareness of food allergies as a serious and growing public health issue. FARE continues to coordinate the annual Food Allergy Awareness Week and FARE Walk for Food Allergy initiatives that were created by FAAN. In 2013, FARE launched a PSA focusing on food allergy bullying titled “Food Allergy Bullying: It’s Not a Joke,” and partnered with the Discovery Channel on an hourlong documentary called “An Emerging Epidemic: Food Allergies in America,” narrated by actor Steve Carell.

In 2014, FARE started the Teal Pumpkin Project, where families participating in Halloween signal that they have alternative treats available for people with allergies by placing a teal pumpkin or a flyer from the FARE website at their door.