How high insulin in obesity may make airways tighten in asthma
Official title: Insulin increases nerve-mediated bronchoconstriction in obesity-related asthma
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11245698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the higher insulin that comes with obesity makes airway nerves cause tighter breathing in people with obesity-related asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,359 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL163087-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11245698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with obesity and asthma, especially those who have frequent symptoms or poor control despite standard treatments, would be the main group who might benefit from related future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with asthma not related to obesity or those whose symptoms are well controlled with current therapies are less likely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will use obese mouse models to study how insulin changes the nerves that control airway tightening. They will measure nerve activity, nerve density in the airways, and whether insulin acts directly on nerve insulin receptors. The team will test reflex bronchoconstriction responses and compare sensory versus parasympathetic nerve contributions. Results are meant to point toward nerve-focused ways to reduce asthma problems in people with obesity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal nerve-related targets that lead to better treatments for asthma in people with obesity who do not respond well to current medicines.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies from this group and others have shown that insulin can increase airway reactivity, but translating nerve-targeted approaches to people remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nie, Zhenying — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Nie, Zhenying
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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.