From the TMS Board > Board News > TMS Receives 2007 AAAAI Project Award

TMS Receives 2007 AAAAI Project Award

(November 25, 2007) TMS Vice Chair Val Slee today received word that The Mastocytosis Society (TMS) has been named a recipient of the 2007 American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) Lay Organization Project Award in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars (US $15,000.00).

Our project, titled, “Mast Cell Activation Symptomatology: An Educational Video Project,” has as its objective is to create an “educational DVD in which American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) allergist/immunologists [will] discuss the symptomatology characteristic of mast cell activation.”

Here is the project overview we provided as part of our grant: “Mariana Castells, MD, PhD, FAAAAI, estimates that it takes nine years, on average, for patients who do not have obvious urticaria pigmentosa to receive a diagnosis of mastocytosis or related mast cell activation disorders. This means that each year patients may be misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed — or may be treated with incorrect or life-threatening drug therapies, due to the lack of knowledge about and awareness of mast cell-related diseases.

“We would like to create an eight-minute educational DVD that will help educate allergists, immunologists, and other doctors, as well as patients, about the symptoms that are characteristic of mast cell degranulation. We would like to make copies of this DVD available to doctors, and we could also show it in our booth at medical conferences such as the AAAAI Annual meeting to help educate doctors and increase awareness of these disorders.”

We feel that a professionally produced educational video will help us greatly in our efforts to raise awareness about mast cell-related diseases and to educate both doctors and the public. We are excited about this opportunity to partner with AAAAI as a lay organization.

It took the efforts of a number of people working quickly and working together to secure this grant: Vice Chair Val Slee brought this funding opportunity to everyone's attention as soon as she heard about it - just a few weeks before the deadline for proposals. Jim Boyle came up with a terrific project idea and delivered a first draft of the proposal, and later on he responded to the comments of AAAAI reviewers. Research Advisory Committee Chair Candace Van Auken revised and re-worked Jim's draft into its final form. Val proofread the final draft, Val and Chair Rita Barlow solicited letters from Medical Advisory Board members in support of our proposal, and despite it being the time of summer when most everyone is on vacation, Dr. Cem Akin delivered a letter in support of our proposal ahead of the deadline. Our thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped to create this successful proposal in record time!

The AAAAI makes project awards to support allergy, asthma, and immunology related lay organization projects that enhance research and training efforts and support public and patient education and enhance the visibility and role of the allergist and immunologist.

Established in 1943, the AAAAI works to support its 6,500 members worldwide in providing high quality, compassionate health care for those with allergy, asthma and immunologic disorders by providing advocacy and support for patients and the allergy/immunology specialists who provide their care; providing education and information about allergy/immunology for its members, other healthcare professionals, patients and the public; fostering and disseminating research and new information in allergy/immunology; and enhancing and supporting academic allergy/immunology programs.

—Candace Van Auken, Chair, Research Advisory Committee