Airway inflammation and scarring in severe asthma
Airway Inflammation and Airway Remodeling in Severe Asthma
This project looks at what causes the airways to thicken and scar in people with severe asthma to help find better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134396 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research studies people with severe asthma to understand why their airways become thicker, stiffer, and more prone to narrowing. Doctors collect airway biopsies, blood samples, and breathing tests and examine cells, inflammatory signals (including TNF-α), airway smooth muscle, and changes in the tissue around the airways. Teams compare samples from severe versus milder asthma to pinpoint the molecular pathways that drive remodeling. The findings will be used to identify possible targets for new therapies aimed at preventing or reversing airway remodeling.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with severe or difficult-to-control asthma, especially those willing to undergo bronchoscopy/biopsy and blood testing, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with mild, well-controlled asthma or those unable or unwilling to undergo invasive testing would be unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that stop or reverse airway remodeling and help preserve lung function in people with severe asthma.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that increased airway smooth muscle is linked to worse lung function, but directly targeting airway remodeling remains largely experimental and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Broide, David H — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Broide, David H
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 below.