Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology is a certified centre in the European network of excellence GA2LEN

(Global Allergy & Asthma European Network)

 

  • According to the WHO, 100 to 150 million people worldwide now suffer from asthma alone
  • In half of adult patients, asthma has an allergic cause, in children even 80 per cent.
  • In Europe, 65 per cent of allergy sufferers suffer from hay fever, 27 per cent from asthma, 22 per cent from skin allergies such as eczema or neurodermatitis and 13 per cent from food allergies - with several diseases occurring at the same time.
  • The incidence of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma continues to rise in Europe with increasing exposure to old and new allergens.

GA2LEN(Global Allergy & Asthma European Network) is an EU-funded network of over 60 leading European research groups and more than 25 university hospitals from 14 countries in the EU, Switzerland and Norway.

It also includes the European Association of Allergists (EAACI) and the European Federation of Patient Organisations (EFA).

The aim of the network is to improve the quality and integration of research, to investigate all aspects of allergic diseases and to reduce the burden of allergies and asthma throughout Europe.

  • Uniform quality standards in certified allergy centres
  • Europe-wide epidemiological data collection
  • Realisation of large cohort studies
  • Multidisciplinary co-operation
  • Stimulation of basic allergy research
  • Exchange programmes for researchers
  • Promotion of young scientists

The GA2LENcentres are committed to high quality standards in patient care, training and quality management, which are regularly reviewed by external experts. In January 2007 and 2009, a delegation intensively examined the Allergy Department of the University Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology Ulm in the areas of training and knowledge of nursing staff and doctors, safety measures, organisational processes and quality management. The GA2LENcertification was awarded. This documents the high standard of patient care at the University Hospital on the one hand and the high scientific level on the other, which is also a prerequisite for gaining access to international study collaborations and training programmes at EU level.

The development of new approaches for the prevention and treatment of allergies and asthma is essential. Allergies not only have an impact on health, but also on the social and emotional lives of those affected and on healthcare budgets. GA2LENaims to reduce the economic damage caused by allergies, which amounts to more than 25 billion euros annually in European society alone, in the long term.