How your environment and body microbes may shape asthma risk
Impact of the Environment and Host Microbiome on Asthma Development: Mechanistic Studies
This project looks at how environmental exposures and the microbes that live in our bodies influence who develops asthma and why.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11363733 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study links between environmental exposures (like air pollution, allergens, and household factors) and the microbes in the nose, lungs, and gut to understand how these interactions lead to asthma. They will combine analysis of human samples with laboratory experiments and animal models to trace the biological steps that cause airway inflammation and allergic reactions. Multiple teams will compare microbiome patterns, measure exposures over time, and test whether changing microbes or exposures alters asthma-related biology. The work aims to find markers of risk and biological targets that could guide prevention or new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with or at risk for asthma, such as children with early allergic symptoms, those with a family history of asthma, or individuals exposed to high levels of pollution or allergens.
Not a fit: People without asthma symptoms or risk factors, or whose asthma is caused solely by non-modifiable genetic factors, may be less likely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early signs of asthma risk and suggest ways to prevent or reduce asthma by modifying environmental exposures or the microbiome.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked the microbiome and environmental exposures to asthma risk, but the detailed mechanisms remain incompletely understood, so this program builds on promising but not yet definitive findings.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vercelli, Donata — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Vercelli, Donata
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.