title: [GA2LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network), the perspective of the German speaking centers].
abstract: Allergic diseases represent a major health problem in Europe. They are increasing in prevalence, severity and costs. GA2LEN (Global Allergy and Asthma European Network), an FP6 Network of Excellence, was created in 2005 as a vehicle to ensure excellence in research bringing together research and clinical institutions to combat fragmentation in the European research area and to tackle allergy as a whole. GA2LEN benefited greatly from the voluntary efforts of researchers who are strongly committed to this model of pan-European collaboration. The network was organized in order to increase networking for scientific projects in allergy and asthma around Europe and to make GA2LEN the world leader in the field. Besides these activities, research has been jointly made and the first papers are being published. GA2LEN achievements in general can be grouped as those for a durable infrastructure built up during the project phase those which are project-related work based on these novel infrastructures, and the development and implementations of guidelines. The major achievements of GA2LEN are reported in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (DIAID), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wöhrl
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radon
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: Cezmi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Akdis
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burney
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberge
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zuberbier
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D001317:Austria; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D013557:Switzerland