Isabel Skypala
Isabel has worked in the field of food allergy at the Royal Brompton Hospital for over 30 years. Initially seeing both children and adults, Isabel established a bespoke adult food allergy service in 2008 and in 2014 became the UKs first consultant adult allergy dietitian. Her research has primarily been focussed on plant food allergy, including Pollen Food Syndrome, and Lipid Transfer Protein Allergy and she has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers and books. Isabel also teaches on several Allergy MSc programmes and lectures nationally and internationally. She is active in both the BSACI and international allergy societies including the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Together with others, Isabel has spent the last 20 years developing the dietitian’s role in food allergy through the establishment of allergy specialist groups in the UK, Europe and world-wide. Isabel received the BSACI William Frankland award for services to clinical allergy in 2014, and the Allied Health Professional Recognition Award from the AAAAI in 2022.
Michael Perkin
Michael is a Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at St George’s Hospital, London, and Reader in Clinical Epidemiology at City St George’s, University of London. He trained at St George’s and undertook a Wellcome Fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology with Professor David Strachan, followed by specialist allergy training at St Mary’s and Southampton.
His research focuses on the causes and prevention of childhood allergy. He was co-principal investigator of the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which helped inform international guidance on introducing allergenic foods in infancy. His research also includes eczema prevention and the role of infant skincare practices.
Michael has contributed to BSACI guidance on food allergy prevention and research examining the provision of paediatric allergy services across the UK. His clinical interests include food immunotherapy and translating research into practical improvements in patient care.
He lectures nationally and internationally, supervises postgraduate researchers and was an inaugural board member of the EAACI Epidemiology Interest Group. As SOCC co-chair, he brings experience in clinical practice, epidemiology and intervention research.
