How airway lining cells and immune cells drive severe steroid-resistant asthma
Immune Airway-Epithelial Interactions in Steroid-Refractory Severe Asthma
This project looks at how immune cells and the cells that line the airways interact in people whose severe asthma does not respond to corticosteroids, to find clearer markers and better treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330457 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers collect blood and airway samples from people with severe steroid-refractory asthma and use advanced cell-profiling tools like mass cytometry (CyTOF) along with lab studies of bronchial epithelial cells. Early work found two main patterns: one driven by innate immune responses and environmental triggers, and another where airway cell death and CD8 T cells interact. The team will refine these molecular and immune profiles, study genetic and epigenetic risk factors, and look for biomarkers that can guide more precise therapies. The overall aim is to match patients to the most appropriate, cost-effective treatments and reveal new targets for therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with severe asthma that does not respond to corticosteroids who are willing to provide blood and airway samples and attend clinic visits.
Not a fit: People with mild, well-controlled asthma or asthma that responds to standard steroid treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help match patients to the right biologic or other targeted therapies and identify new treatment targets for severe steroid-refractory asthma.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches using immune cell profiling and targeted biologics have helped some severe asthma subtypes, but the specific two-pattern airway–immune interaction model is newer and needs further validation.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Anuradha — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ray, Anuradha
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.