Media release

From: Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI)

The National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) has united experts in drug, food, insect and respiratory allergies since launching last August to help accelerate allergy research in Australia. Its mission is to turn the country’s trend of being the allergy capital of the world, including having the highest rate of childhood food allergy.

As part of Food Allergy Week, NACE, the country’s peak allergy research body, hosted at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, has shared the importance of finding new ways to prevent and treat allergic diseases to reduce the burden of allergies and ultimately save lives.

Together with nine Melbourne schools, the NACE remembers Max McKenzie, 15, of Camberwell Grammar School (CGS) and James Tsindos, 17, of Brighton Grammar School (BGS), who died following an allergic reaction in 2021.

On Friday May 26, CGS is hosting Live to the Max day and BGS is holding Jam for James day. Max had a passion for debating and kayaking and James was a talented pianist and musical theatre performer. Other schools are holding allergy information sessions, musical performances, casual dress days, sausage sizzles and market stalls.

Money raised from the schools’ Youth Action for Allergy activities will be donated to the NACE as it works to build the research tools and resources needed to rapidly translate evidence into practice.

Associate Professor Kirsten Perrett, NACE Director, Murdoch Children’s Population Allergy Group Lead and co-author of the Allergy Friendly Family Cookbook, said one in 20 10- to 14-year-old school students in Melbourne have a food allergy, and the most common triggers were peanut and tree nut.

“So many families of school aged students are navigating life with allergic diseases,” she said. “Together, with these incredible school communities, the McKenzie and Tsindos families have become a voice for Max and James. They are raising awareness about allergies and the need to advance research so that, one day, every student can go to school allergy-free.”

Max’s friends, Tommy Auwardt, who has a food allergy, Raphael Champion and Nathan Bosmans of CGS, said their greatest hope was that through the spread of information about the dangers of anaphylaxis, a situation as devastating as what happened to Max could be avoided.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to see schools talking more about allergies and how to keep each other safe,” they said.

Max’s parents, Ben and Tamara McKenzie, welcomed the community support to help protect and save the lives of young people who have allergies.

“No family should ever have to face their child not waking up in intensive care, from allergies, ever again,” said Ben, an emergency physician and NACE PhD Scholarship recipient. “Research and bringing change through science has the potential to achieve the greatest impact at both a national and global level.

Read more on the NACE website