Immunity Group Podcast

Immunity Group Australia

Join "Immunity Group Podcast," where we delve into everything from allergies to optimising your immune system. Get expert insights for a healthier, happier life. Hosted by Immunity Group Australia. Disclaimer: We do not offer any medical advice. For any medical advice, please consult your doctor. This podcast is for educational and information purposes only.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 64: Beyond Avoidance with Dr Lianne Soller on OIT, Anxiety & the Future of Food Allergy Treatment

    What does the future of food allergy care look like when we move beyond simply avoiding allergens? In Episode 64 of the Immunity Group Podcast, Dr Nina Markovic-Khaze speaks with Dr Lianne Soller, Allergy Research Manager in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of British Columbia and a leading researcher in food allergy treatment at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada. Dr Soller has spent almost two decades working in allergy research and now leads research examining oral immunotherapy (OIT), sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), real-world food allergy treatment and the psychosocial impact of living with food allergy. In this wide-ranging conversation, Nina and Lianne discuss: • What OIT can realistically achieve, and the important difference between desensitisation, remission and “cure”• Why Canada increasingly favours earlier intervention rather than waiting for children to outgrow food allergies• Why access to OIT remains unequal, even in countries where treatment is becoming more established• The practical barriers facing allergists, including time, staffing, funding and healthcare infrastructure• How telemedicine, home-based protocols and greater GP involvement could expand access to treatment• Food allergy anxiety and why psychological wellbeing needs to become part of routine allergy care• The development of the IMPACT tool, designed to measure food-allergy-related anxiety and coping in parents• Skin prick testing, specific IgE, component testing, basophil activation testing and the ongoing role of oral food challenges• Emerging research into the gut microbiome, infancy and oral immunotherapy, including the team’s DINOSAUR study• Why international collaboration will be essential if food allergy treatment is to become more accessible worldwide. Dr Soller is also co-founder and Board Chair of the Canadian Food Allergy Immunotherapy (FAIT) Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation working to increase access to food allergy treatment across Canada. At the heart of this episode is a bigger question: can food allergy care evolve from a model centred predominantly on avoidance and emergency preparedness towards one that also offers treatment, psychological support and greater freedom for families? An important conversation about science, access, anxiety and what meaningful progress in food allergy care could look like.

  2. Aug 23

    Episode 63: Beyond the Dose: On OIT, Psychology and Best-Practice Food Allergy Management

    In this episode, our podcast host Dr Nina Markovic speaks with Dr Helen Evans-Howells, known as “Dr Helen Allergy”, a GP with a special interest in allergy and a deeply personal connection to the field. Dr Helen shares how her son’s food allergies inspired her to retrain in allergy medicine and ultimately establish her own private allergy practice. We discuss the realities of working within food allergy care, the challenges she encountered within the NHS, and the importance of building accessible, community-focused allergy support. The conversation explores Dr Helen’s work with organisations including Anaphylaxis UK and the Sadie Bristow Foundation, her large online allergy community, and her involvement with the international Food Allergy Support Team (FAST), where clinicians collaborate, exchange experience and discuss approaches to food allergy treatment. We also take a deeper look at oral immunotherapy (OIT) and why successful treatment involves far more than simply increasing a dose. Dr Helen discusses the psychological aspects of food allergy, shared decision-making with children and families, patient motivation, adherence, and the importance of considering quality of life alongside clinical outcomes. A thoughtful conversation about the evolving landscape of food allergy care and what truly patient-centred, best-practice management can look like. This podcast is for educational and general informational purposes only and does not constitute individual medical advice. Always discuss diagnosis and treatment decisions with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

  3. Aug 3

    Episode 62: Parasites, Allergies and Mineral Magic

    In this episode of the Immunity Group Podcast, our host Nina speaks with Dr Elena Ferapontova, an allergist and immunologist with more than 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Together, they explore how allergy care differs across Australia and Russia, including common allergic conditions, birch pollen allergy and pollen-food allergy syndrome, access to specialists, food allergy diagnosis, and the developing role of oral immunotherapy. The conversation also examines the surprising overlap between parasitic infections and allergy-like symptoms, the scientific and cultural traditions surrounding mineral waters and health resorts, and emerging research into the gut microbiome and immune health. A fascinating international discussion about where medicine, environment, culture and the immune system intersect. Topics include:Parasites and allergy-like symptoms • Birch pollen allergy • Pollen-food allergy syndrome • Food allergy care • Oral immunotherapy • Mineral waters and health resorts • Gut microbiome research This podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

  4. Jul 25

    Episode 61: Advancing allergy care - Oral Immunotherapy and Global Collaboration

    What does the future of food allergy treatment look like, and how can international collaboration help improve access to evidence-based care? In this episode of the Immunity Group Australia Podcast, our host Nina Markovic speaks with Dr David Mass, a UK-based GP working within an Allergy Centre of Excellence and the first GP in the UK to be awarded an Extended Role in Allergy. Dr Mass shares his journey into allergy medicine and discusses the significant unmet need for allergy services across the UK. The conversation explores the development and implementation of oral immunotherapy, the importance of evidence-based clinical practice and the growing role that appropriately trained GPs may play in improving access to allergy care. Nina and Dr Mass also reflect on the value of international collaboration through the Food Allergy Support Team Congress, including the upcoming FAST Europe meeting and its potential to support the development of allergy treatment across Europe. The episode also examines how media, literature and public education influence allergy awareness, as well as the challenges faced by doctors entering this developing area of practice. Topics discussed include: • The development and implementation of oral immunotherapy • The unmet need for allergy care in the UK • Evidence-based approaches to food allergy treatment • The role of GPs in expanding access to allergy services • Lessons from the FAST Congress • The importance of FAST Europe • Media, literature and public understanding of allergy • Future directions and innovation in allergy treatment #Food allergy #Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) #AllergyCare #FoodAllergy #Education

  5. Jul 2

    Episode 60: Food Allergy, Fear and Freedom with Amanda Whitehouse, PhD

    In this powerful episode of the Immunity Group Australia Podcast, Nina speaks with Amanda R. DeSio Whitehouse, PhD, a licensed psychologist, food-allergy mother, speaker, podcast host, and author of the newly launched book From Fear to Freedom. A Workbook for Navigating Allergy Immunotherapy. Amanda shares a deeply personal and professional perspective on the emotional reality of living with food allergy, from anxiety, trauma and hypervigilance to the hope and complexity of allergy immunotherapy. Together, we explore why food allergy anxiety is not “irrational,” how families can process fear with compassion, why psychological support should sit alongside medical treatment, and what life can look like after treatment, maintenance and graduation. This is an essential conversation for parents, carers, clinicians and anyone seeking to understand the journey from survival mode to confidence, safety and freedom. Amanda's book is now available on Amazon Australia and other platforms.

  6. Jun 1

    Episode 59: Creating MyMedPouch for Food Allergy Families

    In this episode of the Immunity Group Podcast, host Nina Markovic speaks with Tammy Pruscino, founder of MyMedPouch, food allergy advocate, and parent of children living with allergic conditions. Tammy shares how her family’s experience with asthma and food allergies inspired her transition from commercial litigation lawyer to start-up founder, creating a practical and stylish medical pouch designed to help families safely carry essential allergy medications. Together, they discuss the realities of raising children with food allergies, turning lived experience into innovation, navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of advocacy and empowerment within the food allergy community. Tammy also shares valuable insights for parents hoping to bring their own ideas to life. ✨ Special offer for listeners: Use code IMMUNITY20 for 20% OFF the first 10 orders at MyMedPouch. #FoodAllergy #FoodAllergyAwareness #AllergySupport #MyMedPouch #ImmunityGroupAustralia #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness

    Episode 59: Creating MyMedPouch for Food Allergy Families

  7. May 20

    Episode 58: FAST Global Summit - Advancing Allergy Care Together

    This podcast interview features Dr Douglas Jones, co-founder of the Food Allergy Support Team (FAST), reflecting on the organisation’s 10-year journey and the upcoming 9th Annual Congress. Founded in response to the need for greater education, training, and support in food allergy treatment, FAST has evolved from a clinical data registry into a globally recognised collaborative congress that brings together leading experts without industry sponsorship. Held on 12–13 June 2026 in Dallas, Texas, the Congress will feature presentations and panel discussions on specialized topics including oral immunotherapy (OIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Dr Jones discusses how FAST creates a unique environment where clinicians of all experience levels can learn from one another alongside dietitians and food allergy psychologists, encouraging open discussion and shared perspectives. The conversation also explores current advances in food allergy care, including remission pathways, best-practice approaches, gut health modulation, and microbiome interventions. For more information, visit https://fastoit.org Disclaimer: This podcast is for non-medical educational purposes only. Subscribe now to the Immunity Group Podcast to be the first to hear about upcoming episodes.

    Episode 58: FAST Global Summit - Advancing Allergy Care Together

  8. May 11

    Episode 57: ALLERGY SMART: Navigating Food Allergies with Confidence

    In this insightful episode of the Immunity Group Australia Podcast, ImGA podcast host Nina Markovic, PhD speaks with allergist and published author Alice Hoyt, MD from Louisiana about her new book, Navigating Food Allergies: A Parent’s Guide to Care, Coverage, and Confidence, published in 2026 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Together, they discuss the realities families face when navigating food allergies and treatments such as oral immunotherapy, including anxiety, school, social situations and the importance of practical, informed support for parents and caregivers. A thoughtful and empowering conversation for families, healthcare professionals and the wider food allergy community.

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About

Join "Immunity Group Podcast," where we delve into everything from allergies to optimising your immune system. Get expert insights for a healthier, happier life. Hosted by Immunity Group Australia. Disclaimer: We do not offer any medical advice. For any medical advice, please consult your doctor. This podcast is for educational and information purposes only.

Information

  • Creator
    Immunity Group Australia
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Immunity Group Australia
  • Show Website
    Immunity Group Podcast

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