Dr. Denise Daley

2007 Career Investigator Award, Scholar

The genetics of asthma, atopy and allergic diseases|,|

Incidence of childhood asthma is on the rise. Studies have found that a child with an asthmatic parent has a one in five risk of also developing asthma. The odds rise to two out of five if both parents have asthma. However, in itself, a genetic predisposition does not ensure that asthma will develop. Asthma and allergic disease are the result of both genetics and the environment.

As part of her research studying why some children get asthma and others do not, Dr. Denise Daley has found 162 genes that may predispose children to developing asthma. She is working to determine what contribution gender, genes, and environment make to the development of asthma, particularly how a combination of gene variations – each with a modest effect – interact with gender and environmental factors to produce asthma. This interaction between genetics and the environment is key in developing or protecting against asthma.

Further study of these genes in conjunction with environmental factors will create better understanding of some children develop asthma and others do not, and what factors play key roles. An understanding of how several factors – gender, genetics and the environment – come together to develop asthma and other allergic diseases will lead to better treatments for these life-long conditions.

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