Airway inflammation and scarring in severe asthma
Official title: Airway Inflammation and Airway Remodeling in Severe Asthma
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11134396 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 1, 2006 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,864,409 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI070535-20 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134396 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with severe or difficult-to-control asthma, especially those willing to undergo bronchoscopy/biopsy and blood testing, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
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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.