Natasha Medical Bursaries and PhD Scholarships - Transforming UK Allergy Care

Supporting the Next Generation of Allergy Leaders

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is the UK’s only charity dedicated to advancing food allergy research and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s death was entirely preventable. She suffered a fatal allergic reaction to hidden sesame in a baguette, highlighting the urgent need for better food allergy awareness, training, and research. Natasha should still be here, and no one should ever die from the food they eat.

Natasha’s story drives everything we do, inspiring our charity mission to train healthcare professionals, fund groundbreaking medical research, and ensure expert allergy care is available across the UK. Allergies are rising, specialists are too few, and care is inconsistent - Natasha’s Foundation exists to change that and make sure that no family has to face what ours did.

Why allergy training and specialists are urgently needed

• Around 6 percent of UK adults, about 2.4 million people, have a clinically confirmed food allergy. (Food Standards Agency)

• Many more people report adverse reactions to food, meaning the true burden of allergic disease is larger than diagnosis figures alone. (Food Standards Agency)

UK hospital admissions for allergies are rising

• Hospital admissions for allergies and anaphylaxis in England have more than doubled in the past two decades, with over 25,700 allergy-related admissions in 2022‑23. (The Guardian)

Specialist allergy care in the UK is limited

• The UK has only around 40 specialist allergists nationwide, equating to one specialist for every 525,000 patients with allergies. (Parliament UK)

• Many areas lack dedicated allergy clinics, meaning patients may experience delayed or inconsistent care.

Severe consequences for allergic patients

• Severe allergies, especially in children, can be life-threatening without prompt, expert care. (Parliament UK)

• Limited training for healthcare professionals can lead to misdiagnosis and preventable harm.

Natasha’s Foundation is a small charity stepping in to do what should be done at a national level. Every child and adult deserves expert allergy care now.

Allergies are on the rise and we cannot wait any longer to act.

Natasha Medical Bursaries

Since 2020, Natasha’s Foundation has provided MSc Allergy bursaries at the University of Southampton, one of only two UK institutions offering this internationally recognised MSc Allergy programme. Our bursaries are open to healthcare professionals at any stage of their career, helping to build allergy expertise across the UK.

Delivered by a World Allergy Organisation Centre of Excellence, the course equips healthcare professionals with an in-depth understanding of allergic disease and the skills to translate the latest evidence into everyday clinical practice. This specialist allergy education supports better diagnosis, treatment and management of allergies, improving patient safety and care across the NHS.

Our bursaries can be used towards:

• The full MSc Allergy course

• Postgraduate allergy qualifications

• Individual MSc Allergy modules for continued professional development (CPD)

By funding specialist allergy training, Natasha’s Foundation is investing in clinicians who will improve allergy care today and become the allergy leaders of the future.

"This donation from Natasha’s Foundation makes a huge difference to accessibility of our learning. We can train more health professionals who would not otherwise improve their understanding of this important subject." - Professor Judith Holloway, MSc Allergy Course Lead

"It is vital that we keep developing the next generation of experts to ensure research to help people suffering from allergies continues." - Professor John Holloway, Allergy and Respiratory Genetics, University of Southampton

Natasha’s Foundation’s generosity has profoundly impacted allergy education and care.

The impact of Natasha’s Bursaries

Donna works with children and families in hospitals and schools, training over 1,600 staff per year in allergy management.

She chose to study the MSc in Allergy to improve care on her island and to develop new training resources for children, families, and healthcare professionals.

"Without the bursary, I would not have been able to study part-time while working. It has allowed me to create resources that will improve care and safety for children and families. I feel more confident in managing allergy cases and in supporting my colleagues." - Donna Colligon, Paediatric Nurse, Isle of Man

Beth pursued her MSc Allergy to become a specialist in paediatric allergy.

Funding from Natasha’s Bursary enabled her to complete the full master’s degree while working part-time and raising two children.

"I now run a weekly allergy clinic in Edinburgh and encourage colleagues to take the course. The bursary helped me access education I could not otherwise afford. I feel part of the allergy community and better equipped to care for patients." - Beth Moorhouse, Specialty Doctor, Edinburgh

The bursaries and scholarships ensure healthcare professionals are equipped to make a real difference.

PhD Scholarships

PhD students supported by Natasha’s Foundation are advancing research that could change the future of allergy care.

• Bronwyn Westmore began her PhD in October 2022, researching food allergies. Despite health challenges, her MPhil work laid the foundation for ongoing research. Remaining funding will support a new PhD student continuing this vital research.

• Lindsay Anderson researches oral immunotherapy for peanut and milk allergies and the role of miRNA biomarkers. This work could improve diagnosis, treatment outcomes, and quality of life for patients.

Why your support matters

Natasha Bursaries and PhD scholarships are more than education funding. They:

• Empower healthcare professionals with world-class allergy education

• Improve patient care in clinics, hospitals, and communities

• Fund vital research that could lead to new treatments and interventions

With your support, we can expand bursaries, fund more PhD students, and accelerate breakthroughs in food allergy care.

Join Natasha’s Army

Stay up to date with research updates, bursary news, and opportunities to get involved. Together, we can create a lasting legacy of better food allergy care and research breakthroughs.