A New Way to Help People with Severe Asthma
Official title: A Novel Approach to Target Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation and Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Therapy-Resistant (Refractory) Asthma.
Funded at Creighton University · NIH-11118908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores a new molecule called CXN-8 to help people with severe asthma that doesn't respond well to current treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Creighton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $429,311 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164593-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with severe, refractory asthma who do not respond well to current high-dose corticosteroid and bronchodilator treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose asthma is well-controlled with existing medications may not directly benefit from this specific research, as it focuses on therapy-resistant forms.
What this research studies
Many people with asthma find relief with standard medications, but some experience severe symptoms that persist despite high-dose treatments, a condition known as refractory asthma. This project aims to understand why some asthma is so difficult to treat and to find new ways to help. Researchers are focusing on a specific protein, p63RhoGEF, which appears to play a key role in the airway tightening and inflammation seen in severe asthma. They have developed a new molecule, CXN-8, designed to block this protein and potentially reduce asthma symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new medication for individuals with severe, therapy-resistant asthma, offering relief from persistent symptoms and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific molecule CXN-8 is new, initial findings in animal models show promise in reducing asthma symptoms, and the underlying biological pathways are known to be involved in asthma.
Where this research is happening
-
Creighton University
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tu, Yaping — Creighton University
- Study coordinator: Tu, Yaping
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.