Allergy & Immunology

Food Allergies

Looking Ahead to ACAAI 2026: The Topics Our Experts Are Excited About

conference reporter by J. Andrew Bird, MD; Allison Hicks, MD

Overview

As the Food Allergies community prepares to gather for ACAAI 2026, anticipation is building around the latest developments in treatment, diagnostics, clinical research, and patient care. Ahead of this year’s meeting, we asked our Expert panel to share what they are most eager to follow and the developments they believe could have the greatest impact.

"I am particularly interested in the presentation, ‘Overview of Current and Emerging Small Molecules,’ by Melanie Dispenza, MD, PhD, and the potential role of BTK inhibitors in the management of food allergy. With remibrutinib now in phase 3 trials, this approach is moving beyond early proof of concept. An oral therapy that could provide rapid protection without daily allergen dosing would expand our treatment options. The key questions are how reliably these treatments protect against different food allergens and whether their long-term safety will support their use in children."

— J. Andrew Bird, MD

"What I am most excited to follow at ACAAI 2026 is the continued evolution toward more individualized food allergy care. With immunotherapy, biologics, and other emerging approaches, the challenge is increasingly how to match the right management strategy to each patient’s risk, goals, and preferences. I am excited to hear how new evidence can help clinicians make those decisions while focusing on outcomes that matter to patients and families, including safety, treatment burden, and quality of life."

— Allison Hicks, MD

Stay tuned for continued coverage from ACAAI 2026, where our Conference Reporter Expert panel will share key takeaways, emerging data, and expert perspectives throughout the meeting as part of our Conference Reporter^® in Food Allergies series.

This information is brought to you by Engage Health Media and is not sponsored, endorsed, or accredited by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.

Profile

J. Andrew Bird, MD

Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine
Division of Allergy and Immunology
George L. MacGregor Professor in Pediatrics
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Director, Center for Food and Drug Allergy
Children’s Health
Dallas, TX

Profile

Allison Hicks, MD

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Food Immunotherapies
Director, Food Challenge and Research Unit
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, CO