The Malaghan Institute has been granted $2.4 million by the Health Research Council for further research into food allergies and related conditions such as asthma.
Professor Graham Le Gros says the institute must find out what causes some people to have allergic reactions, before it can find a cure.
He says science has neglected this area of research and it's time allergies were put in the spotlight.
Professor Le Gros says one in five New Zealanders are affected by a food allergy, asthma, eczema or hay fever.
