Immune patterns in severe asthma
Project 1
['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11330464
This work looks at immune cells from the lungs of people with severe asthma to learn why some patients do not respond well to steroids or biologic treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11330464 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers collect immune cells from a small lung wash (bronchoalveolar lavage) and blood from people with severe asthma. They use high-detail tools such as mass cytometry (CyTOF) and RNA sequencing to see which cells and genes are active in each person. A new computer method called ICLite links gene activity to specific cell types and helps group patients into distinct immune profiles. By comparing these groups, the team hopes to explain steroid insensitivity and different responses to biologic therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with severe, difficult-to-control asthma—especially those who remain symptomatic despite steroids or biologic drugs—and who are willing to undergo clinic visits and bronchoscopy for sample collection.
Not a fit: People with mild or well-controlled asthma or those unwilling to undergo bronchoscopy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help match patients to the most effective treatments and point to new targets for patients whose asthma does not respond to current therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous SARP and related studies have found immune subtypes and links between IFN-g signaling and steroid resistance, and this project builds on that work using newer single-cell and mass cytometry approaches.
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.