Luxembourg Allergy Network asbl Celebrates 10 Years of Advocacy and Community Support

Luxembourg Allergy Network asbl (LAN) proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, marking a decade of unwavering commitment to supporting individuals and families affected by severe food allergies in Luxembourg.

 

This milestone event brought together members, healthcare professionals, and partners to reflect on ten years of impactful advocacy, education, and community-building aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive environment for those living with food allergies.

 



The evening featured a series of insightful presentations. LAN representatives shared the organisation’s journey and the lived experiences of patients, highlighting the emotional and practical challenges faced by the allergy community. 


Dr. Françoise Morel, pediatric allergist at the Kannerklinik, CHL, provided an insightful update on the current state of childhood food allergies in 2025. She presented recent data on allergy epidemiology across Europe, with a particular focus on Luxembourg, highlighting a significant rise in food allergy prevalence - especially among very young children. Alarmingly, many affected children are developing multiple food allergies.


Diagnosis typically involves a combination of skin prick tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges (provocation tests). Once a diagnosis is confirmed, one of the key treatment options offered at the Kannerklinik is oral immunotherapy (OIT) - a method that involves gradually increasing exposure to the allergen under medical supervision to help the body build tolerance. This approach has been shown to significantly improve quality of life for children with food allergies.

Dr. Morel also emphasized the importance of prevention, particularly the early introduction of allergens into an infant’s diet. This proactive strategy aims to promote immune tolerance rather than sensitization, with promising results in reducing the risk of developing food allergies.

 

Dr Annette Kuehn, a research group leader at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), outlined her work with the LIH, focusing on how they study patients' immune responses by analyzing various immune cell types, blood markers, antibodies, and the gut microbiome. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of patients' conditions and drive progress in clinical care. She explained how these insights can help shape clinical guidelines for diagnosing and treating individuals with food allergies. She also discussed the advanced technology now available to detect allergies, noting that a single test can identify antibodies and allergen-specific signatures from over 300 different allergen sources. In conclusion, she described the mission of LIH and its partners as not only investigating patients with established allergies but also promoting a healthier lifestyle and working toward allergy prevention.

The event underscored the strong partnerships between LAN, medical professionals, and researchers - united by a common goal to place the patient at the heart of their efforts. These collaborative initiatives focus not only on treatment but also on prevention.

Following the presentations, attendees enjoyed a convivial networking reception and buffet, offering an opportunity for continued dialogue and connection within the allergy awareness community.

 

LAN extends its gratitude to all attendees and partners for their continued support. As it looks ahead to the future, the organization remains steadfast in its mission to drive positive change and improve the lives of those impacted by food allergies in Luxembourg.

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