How the body's daily clock affects asthma improving as kids grow
The circadian clock as an age sensor in asthma resolution
Researchers are looking at whether the body's daily clock in lung immune and airway cells helps children's asthma get better as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190962 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at how children's immune responses to common respiratory viruses change as they mature and whether those changes lead to asthma remission. Scientists will compare immune and airway cells from younger children, older children, and adults and will use laboratory animal models to test how circadian clocks in alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells influence inflammation and lung remodeling after viral infection. The project combines human samples and clinical data with mouse experiments to identify timing-dependent mechanisms of recovery. Results may point to ways to encourage long-term asthma improvement by targeting clock-related processes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with asthma and older youth or adults with a history of childhood asthma would be the most relevant candidates for related participation or sample donation.
Not a fit: People whose asthma is not driven by viral triggers or who have late-onset or purely occupational asthma are less likely to benefit from the specific mechanisms studied here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal timing- or clock-based approaches to reduce virus-triggered asthma attacks and promote lasting remission.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown age-related protection and circadian effects on lung remodeling, but translating those findings into proven human treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haspel, Jeffrey Adam — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Haspel, Jeffrey Adam
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.