Perth researchers are working on a $4 million clinical trial to find out if a whooping cough vaccine can protect against food allergies in children.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Curtin University associate professor Tom Snelling is leading the research alongside those at the Telethon Kids Institute.

The report claims that as many 3000 babies will be recruited for the trial, which will see them receive current acellular whooping cough vaccines, brought in in the 1990s, while half will aslo be given a one time dose of an older whole cell vaccine.

They believe that the latter could help babies ward off allergens and help to boost their immune systems.

“We think one dose could be enough to train the immune system away from allergies, with those first few months crucial to prime the immune system,” Professor Snelling told Newscorp.

“Because we live in much cleaner environments, kids don’t get the same exposure to infections as they used to, so that may be why we’re seeing a lot more allergies.”