Blocking the IL-4/13 pathway in allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis to understand why treatments work differently
Official title: Mechanistic clinical trial of blocking the IL-4/13 axis in asthmatics precision phenotyped in an aeroallergen challenge chamber before, during and after receipt of dupilumab
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11593317 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A high-quality clinical trial will test a targeted therapy in people with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis to understand why symptoms and responses vary.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,019 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI158460-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11593317 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HDM-related allergic asthma and/or allergic rhinitis who can participate in aeroallergen challenge procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without house dust mite allergy or without asthma/rhinitis would be less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This study will enroll adults with house dust mite–related allergy who have asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. It uses a blinded, randomized design to compare a dupilumab-based strategy against placebo while measuring how patients respond before, during, and after treatment in a controlled allergen exposure setting. Researchers will collect detailed biological data to link immune and airway changes with clinical symptoms. The goal is to uncover why people differ in disease severity and treatment response and to identify mechanistic factors that could guide personalized care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more personalized treatments for allergic asthma and rhinitis and improve symptom control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using aeroallergen challenge and targeted biologics have shown variable responses, underscoring the need for mechanistic insight.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahuja, Sunil K — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Ahuja, Sunil K
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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.