Investigating new therapies for asthma using biased receptor signaling
Official title: Biased Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in Obstructive Lung Disease Pathology and Therapy
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11050583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain receptors in the lungs work in people with asthma, with the goal of creating new treatments that can help manage asthma symptoms better and with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $595,123 |
| NIH project number | 2R01HL140064-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11050583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with obstructive lung diseases, particularly asthma, who are seeking improved treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-obstructive lung diseases or those who do not have asthma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how specific receptors in the airway smooth muscle cells behave in obstructive lung diseases like asthma. It aims to develop new therapies that target the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor to improve asthma management. By exploring biased agonism, the study seeks to identify ligands that can selectively activate beneficial signaling pathways, potentially leading to better control of asthma symptoms. Patients may benefit from new treatment options that are more effective and have fewer side effects than current medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective asthma treatments that provide better symptom control and fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting biased signaling in GPCRs, suggesting that this approach could lead to significant advancements in asthma therapy.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pera, Tonio — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Pera, Tonio
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.