MACS

Status

Study short name

MACS

Study full name

Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study

Principle Investigator

Shyamali Dharmage

Administering Institute

University of Melbourne

Major funding source

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Study focus

Epidemiology

Study design

Began interventional, now observational

Main study aim

To determine the effects of early life, childhood, adolescent and early adult exposures on eczema, food allergy, asthma, hay fever and lung function.

Additional study information

The MACS study began as an intervention study examining the effects of 3 infant formulas on weaning, and now continues as an observational study.

Study population

High risk birth cohort recruited antenatally. Participants have at least 1 immediate family member (parent, sibling) with self-reported asthma/eczema/hay fever or severe food allergy.

Study status

Recruitment ongoing*, through December 2019.
*Current recruitment is following up individuals who were recruited in the 1990s and their families. This study is unable to accept volunteers who were not part of the original study cohort.

Study contact: [email protected]

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au/anzctr/trial/ACTRN12609000734268

Main Publications: MACS Publications in “Summary”

Lowe AJ, Hosking CS, Bennett CM, Allen KJ, Axelrad C, Carlin JB, et al. Effect of a partially hydrolyzed whey infant formula at weaning on risk of allergic disease in high-risk children: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. 2011;128(2):360-365 e364. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.05.006.