The Spanish multidisciplinary research network for allergic diseases

Thematic networks of cooperative health research (RETICS) are organisational structures promoted by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Science with the objective of carrying out cooperative research projects addressing challenges of general interest for the society in the health field.

The RETICS of Asthma, Adverse Drug Reactions and Allergy (ARADyAL) was funded in 2016 for a 5 years programme (2017-2021). ARADyAL integrates basic and clinical research in the areas of allergy, immunology, genetics, nanomedicine, pharmacology, and chemistry, with special interest in the research of new biomarkers, and the design and evaluation of new intervention strategies for allergic patients with severe phenotypes.

The consortium is composed by 28 groups across Spain, which includes 171 clinical and basic researchers: 17 clinical groups that cover more than 10.000.000 patients of all ages and from urban and rural areas; and 11 basic groups that develop their activities mostly at university and research institutes.

ARADyAL has proposed a research program organised in three different areas focused on Precision Medicine: Program 1. Mechanisms and prediction of adverse drug reactions and allergic diseases; Program 2. Towards a precise diagnosis of allergic diseases; and Program 3. Predicting interventions in allergic diseases. There is also one transversal program dedicated to training.

The network has a Direction Committee and an External Advisory Scientific Committee, which advise the global network coordinator who has recognised expertise in the field. ARADyAL is a unique meeting-point for clinicians and basic scientists that are already working on allergy.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2020 Jul 22;0.  doi: 10.18176/jiaci.0629