INTERLUNG program to protect lung health in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Multi-component INTERLUNG intervention to protect lung health in Nepal
A community health worker–led package of care and environmental measures aimed at protecting the lung health of people living in Bhaktapur, Nepal who are at risk for chronic respiratory disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11305979 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in Bhaktapur and have breathing problems or are exposed to smoke and pollution, this project may enroll community members and deliver a combined set of prevention and care activities led by trained community health workers. The program includes smoking prevention and cessation support, steps to reduce indoor air pollution and allergens, infection management, and chronic respiratory disease care. People will be randomly assigned to receive the INTERLUNG package or the usual local care, and the team will follow lung health, respiratory infections, and daily functioning over about 40 months. The study mixes real-world delivery with health measurements to see whether the package helps protect lungs across the community.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of Bhaktapur, Nepal who have or are at risk for chronic respiratory diseases or who are routinely exposed to air pollution, tobacco smoke, or frequent respiratory infections.
Not a fit: People who live outside the Bhaktapur study area, who do not have respiratory risk factors, or whose lung disease is already advanced and requires specialized care may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower respiratory symptoms, reduce infections, and slow lung function decline for people in the community.
How similar studies have performed: Community health worker and multi-component interventions in low- and middle-income settings have shown promise for improving respiratory care and reducing symptoms, but combining multiple risk-reduction strategies in a randomized trial like this is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Checkley, William — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Checkley, William
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.