Protecting lung health with community health workers in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Multi-component INTERLUNG intervention to protect lung health in Nepal
This project will try a package of community health worker-led actions to help people in Bhaktapur, Nepal keep their lungs healthier by reducing smoke, allergens, and infections.
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-11480309 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, community health workers will work with households in Bhaktapur to deliver tailored messages and practical steps to reduce tobacco smoke, indoor pollutants, and infection risks. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the multi-component intervention or usual care and followed for changes in symptoms, lung health, and infection rates over about 40 months. The team will track both how well the program is delivered and whether it improves lung-related outcomes in the community. Data collection will include home visits, education sessions, and health measurements to see if the package helps people stay healthier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living in Bhaktapur, Nepal who have or are at risk for chronic respiratory conditions (like asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD) or who are exposed to household air pollution or tobacco smoke.
Not a fit: People who live outside the trial area or who need urgent specialized medical or hospital-based care for advanced lung disease are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower respiratory infections, reduce symptom burden, and slow lung function decline for people in the community.
How similar studies have performed: Community health worker programs and smoke-reduction efforts have shown promise in similar settings, but combining multiple evidence-based components in a randomized trial in this community is relatively new.
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.