Publish date: 26 August 2026
The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre on the Isle of Wight is celebrating 30 years of its dedicated centre building, which has served as the home of pioneering research that has transformed the understanding, prevention and treatment of asthma, allergy and related conditions.
Part of Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT), the centre’s building opened in 1996 while research programme itself began several years earlier. The David Hide Centre has grown from a locally based research unit into an internationally recognised centre of excellence, helping to shape clinical practice, influence national and international guidelines, and improve the lives of countless people living with allergic diseases.
The anniversary marks three decades of collaboration and innovation, much of it rooted in the unique long-term studies undertaken with generations of Isle of Wight families. One of the standout projects includes the Isle of Wight Birth Cohort study, one of the world's longest-running studies of asthma and allergy, which has followed participants from birth into adulthood and across generations.
The centre's research has delivered significant advances in understanding how asthma and allergies develop, identifying factors that increase risk, and exploring how early-life interventions may help prevent disease.
Alongside its research programmes, the centre has delivered specialist NHS allergy services for thousands of patients across the Isle of Wight and southern England, while also training clinicians, nurses, researchers and PhD students from around the world.
Hasan Arshad, Director at the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, said: “We have achieved a lot over the last 30 years, making a global impact from the studies that have been done at the centre. We’re hoping that our studies will continue to have a big impact and improve the lives of those with asthma and food allergies.”
Graham Roberts, Director at the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, added: “A lot of our current understanding of asthma and allergy comes from research based on the Isle of Wight. When I am at international meetings, it is noticeable how often experts quote results from studies run from the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre.”
As it celebrates 30 years since the building’s opening, the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre remains committed to improving lives through research, education and clinical care, ensuring that discoveries have both a local and wider impact.
