The Gastrointestinal Microbiome & Allergic Proctocolitis (GMAP) Study
Email: mghgmapstudy@mgb.org
Overview
The Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Allergic Proctocolitis (GMAP) study is a prospective, observational, healthy infant cohort study created by a multidisciplinary team of doctors and scientists at Mass General for Children, in close partnership with Pediatrics at Newton-Wellesley. The study was designed to learn more about the earliest manifestations of food allergy in infants and the many factors that may contribute to the development of allergies or, conversely, tolerance acquisition.
Starting in 2014, this long-term study enrolled children at their first pediatrics visit after birth and is following them through their entire childhood until they turn 18. We collect survey information, stool samples, blood samples, and urine samples at pediatrics visits across the child’s lifespan to better answer many of these open research questions.
Explore the topics here to learn more about GMAP, what we are learning from this exciting study, and how you can get involved.
Research projects
Food Protein-induced Allergic Proctocolitis (FPIAP)
Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is one of the earliest food allergic manifestations. It presents in young infants with fussiness, reflux behaviors, and blood/mucous in the stools. FPIAP is also referred to as cow’s milk protein intolerance or allergy (CMPA) or milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI). Very little research has been done on how this disease develops and the degree to which it does or does not predict later development of other food allergies. Dietary elimination of milk and soy proteins has been a mainstay of therapy, but little is known about the natural history of FPIAP or the long-term implications of this practice.
Risk Factors
We know that many factors may play a role in which children develop allergies or lose tolerance to certain foods. In the GMAP study, we aim to understand the role of environmental factors (e.g., mode of delivery, antibiotic use, pets), genetic factors, how and when foods are introduced into the diet, how those foods interact with the infant gut microbiome, and how this impacts long term health, well-being, and tolerance acquisition.
Future Goals
We believe that a better foundational understanding of all these factors will lead to better clinical practice guidelines to help treat and ultimately prevent some pediatric food allergies.
Bowel Sounds Podcast
Making Sense of Milk Intolerances
Altered intestinal microbiome in infants with FPIAP
Research Team
Victoria Martin, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School and Mass General for Children; Co-Director, Pediatric Gastroenterology Section, Food Allergy Center, MGH
Dr. Martin is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist whose research focuses on unraveling the mechanism of food protein induced allergic proctocolitis, a novel early step on the atopic march. She studies the role of the developing infant microbiome in gastrointestinal food allergic diseases, and in the development of both IgE- and non-IgE-mediated food allergies in children.
Wayne Shreffler, MD, PhD
Chief, Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, Director, Food Allergy Center, MGH
Qian Yuan, MD, PhD
Associate Pediatrician, MGH
Publications
Check out the most recent publications from the GMAP study here