Eosinophilic Oesophagitis

- Understanding EoE

What is Eosinophilic Oesophagitis?

For most families, mealtimes are moments of connection. For children with EoE, eating can mean pain, fear, and frustration.

EoE causes inflammation in the oesophagus — the food pipe that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. It can make swallowing difficult and cause food to get stuck, leading to slow eating, fear of choking, poor nutrition, and social isolation.

Invasive diagnosis

Children must undergo repeated endoscopies under general anaesthetic to track inflammation and monitor treatment response.

Limited treatments

Swallowed steroids can reduce inflammation but aren't always effective and may be needed long-term.

Restrictive diets

Eliminating dairy, wheat, soy, eggs and nuts — often without clear guidance on what's truly triggering symptoms.

The research that can

change this

Every dollar you give goes straight to the research that could change everything for kids with EoE.

We're raising $30,000 by August 2026 to back Dr Scott Nightingale and his team at HMRI and John Hunter Children's Hospital — local researchers working to develop better treatments and kinder ways to monitor EoE. Together, we can turn hope into real answers for children and families right here in the Hunter.

Donate Now 

Dr Scott Nightingale

HMRI & John Hunter Children's Hospital · Hunter New South Wales

Lead researcher

Real familites. Real Impact.

Behind every project is a child

hoping for answers

This research isn't just about science — it's about children and the families watching them struggle every single day. Your support helps take this research from the lab bench to the bedside.

Meet Felix

Felix has spent most of his life navigating painful procedures, food fear, and the daily reality of EoE. In the past 18 months alone he's had six medical procedures — but with careful treatment, his team has narrowed his triggers to just two foods. Kids like Felix are exactly why we're raising $30,000 for EoE research.

More information

Why is this research needed? +

Current research into Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE) faces two major challenges.

Firstly, there is no reliable, non-invasive way to monitor the disease or track how well treatments are working. Children often need repeated endoscopies under general anaesthesia, which can be stressful and invasive.

Secondly, treatment options are limited. Swallowed steroids can reduce inflammation but are not always effective and may be required long-term. Elimination diets can also be difficult to maintain, socially isolating, and may lead to nutritional deficiencies.

How will the research be conducted? +

The research team is working with children diagnosed with EoE at John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

They will build a tissue bank using small oesophageal biopsy samples already collected during routine endoscopies. These samples will be used to grow organoids — miniature models of a child’s oesophagus — in the lab.

This allows researchers to safely test food triggers and trial new treatments without exposing children to unnecessary risk or restrictive diets.

What are the main focus areas of the research? +

Better disease monitoring: Exploring non-invasive ultrasound techniques and more personalised patient questionnaires to reduce reliance on repeated endoscopies.

New treatment approaches: Using lab-grown organoids to identify food triggers and test potential new medications in a safe, controlled environment.

What impact could this research have? +

This research has the potential to significantly improve the lives of children with EoE by:

Reducing the need for repeated invasive procedures
Making diets more targeted and easier to manage
Improving nutrition and overall quality of life
Supporting the development of a promising new treatment

Help us bring

hope to children

living with EoE