Professor Janet Davies leads the Allergy Research Group: a team of researchers that undertake applied allergy research to improve diagnosis, treatment and understanding of the immunological mechanism underlying allergic respiratory diseases.
Allergic disease affects 30% of Australians, up from 4.1 million in 2007, with rates varying by age, gender, and state of origin. Allergic disease now costs Australia $64 billion a year in health and non-financial costs (Costly reactions, Delliotes 2025).
The multidisciplinary Allergy Research Group encompasses molecular allergology and environmental health to improve outcomes of patients living with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Janet assembled aerobiologist nationally for the NHMRC AusPollen Partnership (2016-2020), recognised as an Impact Case Study by NHRMC in 2023, and led the guidelines for grass pollen allergy diagnosis for the EAACI Molecular Allergology Users Guide (2015 and 2022). Professor Davies is the foremost author in Asia Pacific in the discipline of pollen allergy and climate change and her research has been well supported by 10 national competitive grants from MRFF, NHMRC and ARC grants, as well as government and global industry contracts.
As the National Allergy Centre of Excellence BioRepository & Discovery Pillar Lead, Professor Davies oversees the design of a National Allergy BioRepository to harness the power of big data analysis to drive individualised healthcare. In her role as Respiratory Allergy Stream co-Chair, she is also helping to identify the priorities of Australians living with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma and support the work of the NACE in synthesising and harmonising respiratory allergy research across Australia.
The Allergy Research Group aims to improve the people living with allergic disease via world leading research
Digitally-Integrated Smart Sensing of Diverse Airborne Grass Pollen Sources (ARC DP240203307)
Improving Food Allergy Outcomes in Adolescents (NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies 2023, 2032605)
Creating A RIsk assessment biomarker Tool to prevent Seasonal allergic and Thunderstorm Asthma – CARISTA (MRFF Chronic Respiratory Conditions 2023, 2031254)
Setting Consumer Priorities for Research in Allergic Rhinitis in partnership with A&AA
The Allergy Research Group also help people living with allergies by
1. Understanding the causes of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and seasonal asthma, leading to targeted tests and treatment for grass pollen allergy
2. Providing localized, timely information on pollen levels to help sufferers take preventative measures including avoiding high-pollen areas, or taking appropriate medication when going outside
Research Staff
Research Students