Collaborations and Funding

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AAFA’s Allies (Partners)

No organization can improve the lives of people with asthma and allergies alone. We know that groups must work together.

We collaborate with many different groups who support our mission. While AAFA is eager to work with any person or group whose efforts can help improve the lives of those we serve, we work mostly with allies in these sectors:

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Certified Products

Many products promise to help control allergens. But some products make false or exaggerated claims. This makes it hard for consumers to know the best products to buy.

AAFA joined with Allergy Standards Limited to run the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program. This program helps consumers understand product claims and make informed purchases. We test household products against strict standards. If products pass our tests, they earn the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Mark.  When you see this Mark, you know the product is proven to be better suited for those with asthma and allergies.

How Do I Find asthma & allergy friendly® Certified Products?

Visit asthma & allergy friendly® to find a list of Certified products, including:

What Standards Do You Use to Certify Products?

A panel of medical experts help us develop the standards a product must meet to be CERTIFIED. Companies can submit their products to be independently lab-tested to confirm if the products meet all of the AAFA adopted standards. Visit the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program site for more details on the standards for each product type.

Government

Government plays a unique role in efforts to improve health. Laws and policies shape our health care and how we live. AAFA works with the government to bring the voice of people to the policy-making process.

Government also offers direct support for those we serve. For example:

  • The National Asthma Control Program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to improve the lives of Americans with asthma and allergies. AAFA receives funding from the NACP to support our asthma education programs.
  • The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) has a panel of experts who developed the asthma guidelines. AAFA serves as a coordinating committee member on the NAEPP to advocate for better care guidelines.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has many asthma activities and resources. Funding received from the EPA helped AAFA develop pediatric asthma programs.
  • The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has a panel of experts who developed the food allergy guidelines. AAFA works with the food allergy research team of NIAID to improve diverse enrollment in food allergy research.
  • The CDC’s Division of Population Health developed food allergy guidelines for schools and preschool age programs (PDF).

AAFA works with these and other government agencies. Together we create programs that improve the lives of those with asthma and allergies.

Health Care Professionals

AAFA does not replace the care offered by health care providers. We strive to support providers who care for patients with asthma and allergic diseases and help improve patient-provider communication.  AAFA works with:

  • Physicians
  • Nurses and nurse practitioners
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Certified asthma educators
  • Pharmacists
  • Physician assistants
  • Registered dieticians
  • Community health workers
  • Public health professionals
  • Health educators
  • Counselors and social workers
  • and others who provide much of the day-to-day support to those we serve

AAFA offers many resources and tools to help providers educate asthma and allergy patients. You can find these resources under Programs on our website. AAFA also offers continuing education for nurses and respiratory therapists. You can earn these hours by completing our Asthma Management Education Online program.

We are grateful for the support and collaborative spirit from the many organizations that represent these providers, such as:

Health Insurers

The right care for people with asthma and allergies can prevent sickness and emergencies. The wrong care can lead to poor patient outcomes, and add unnecessary costs to health care.

AAFA works with health insurers and pharmacy benefits managers to:

  • Assess population and claims data
  • Teach the importance of evidence-based care (patient care based on scientific research)
  • Promote the guidelines for patient care
  • Advocate for the inclusion of treatments on formularies
  • Learn from innovators in the health insurance industry

 

Researchers and Academics

Even though a lot of research and studies have been done on asthma and allergies, we still have a lot to learn. Effective treatments exist for many people, but not for everyone yet. We have a better understanding of the causes of asthma and allergic diseases, but we can’t prevent or cure them.

A study by the National Institutes of Health (formerly Institute of Medicine) called Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001)  stated, “The U.S. health care delivery system does not provide consistent, high-quality medical care to all people.”

And while health care reforms (notably the Affordable Care Act) improved our health care system since that report, there are still major gaps to be addressed.

AAFA works with researchers to find better treatments, prevention, and even cures. AAFA’s patient-centered research focuses on the lived experiences of people with asthma and food allergies. This allows us to understand what challenges people living with face. Also, we can learn how, and how well, those difficulties are being solved while we continue our research.

Sponsors and Supporters

Our work is made possible by partnerships with sponsors and supporters. AAFA’s partners help make our mission a reality through collaborative initiatives in patient education, research, advocacy, and more. While we receive funding from pharmaceutical companies, our content, positions, and policies are developed, reviewed, and approved by AAFA. AAFA is grateful for support from the following companies and organizations:

PLATINUM CORPORATE MEMBERS

Amgen logoAstraZeneca logoConsumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) logo
DBV Technologies logoGSKJanssen Infectious Diseases & Vaccines logo
JCI logoNovatris logoOmron logo
 PhRMA logo 

 

GOLD CORPORATE MEMBERS

AIMMUNE Therapeutics logoLilly logoPfizer logo
 Viatris logo 

 

SILVER CORPORATE MEMBERS

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc logoBristol Meyers Squibb logokaleo

OTHER SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

Sanofi Genzyme/Regeneron logo

Genentech logoGladskin logowww.medicalert.com/
Merck logoPlatformQ Health logoVitalograph respiratory diagnostic logo