Investigating how obesity affects airway changes in asthma
Official title: Oxidative Stress and Regional Airway Remodeling and Fibrosis in Obese Asthma
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10690510 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight affects asthma and why people with both conditions often don’t get better with regular treatments, so we can find better ways to help them breathe easier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $737,246 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL153641-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10690510 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with asthma who are also classified as obese.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with asthma who are not obese may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the impact of obesity on asthma, particularly how it leads to changes in the airways that can worsen the condition. It aims to explore why obese asthmatics do not respond well to standard asthma treatments and to identify specific areas of airway remodeling and fibrosis that are affected. By using advanced techniques to study these changes, the research seeks to bridge the gap between animal models and human patients, ultimately aiming to develop more effective therapies for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for obese asthmatics, enhancing their quality of life and asthma management.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited research specifically on obese asthmatics, similar studies on obesity's impact on other respiratory conditions have shown promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Que, Loretta G — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Que, Loretta G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipid anti-Inflammatory Mediators in Asthma for Obese Individuals
A study testing a novel lipid-based drug, CXA-10, to help adults with obesity-related asthma breathe better and control their symptoms.
-
How a mother's lifetime stress may shape a child’s asthma risk
A mom’s long-term stress, including past traumas, could influence her baby’s growing lungs and later risk of asthma.
-
Predictors of inhaled corticosteroid response in asthma across BMI and race
A patient-focused study aims to find metabolite and genetic signals that predict how well people with asthma, including those who are overweight or from high-risk groups, respond to inhaled steroids.
-
Metformin for asthma in overweight and obese adults
This project tests whether metformin can help improve asthma control in overweight and obese adults.
-
How maternal stress and oxidative stress affect child asthma risk
This study looks at how a mother's stress throughout her life might affect her children's chances of developing asthma, especially in families from lower-income BIPOC communities, and aims to find out how these experiences can impact kids' lung health.
-
Investigating how innate lymphocytes affect asthma in obese individuals
This study is looking at how being overweight might make asthma worse, especially in women, by exploring the role of certain immune cells in the body, using a special mouse model that reflects the health issues seen in people; the goal is to find better ways to treat asthma for those who are obese.
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.