Understanding and Treating Severe Asthma Airway Changes
Official title: The TNF Superfamily Control of Pathological Remodeling Associated with Severe Asthma
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11078257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at a specific protein called LIGHT to understand how it contributes to severe asthma and to find new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $515,004 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177359-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant for patients living with severe asthma, particularly those whose condition involves airway remodeling and resistance to conventional treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild or moderate asthma, or those whose asthma responds well to current treatments, may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many people with severe asthma experience airways that become stiff and resistant to standard treatments. Our team found a protein called LIGHT that is very active in severe asthma, both in models and in patient samples. We are exploring how LIGHT affects certain immune cells and other cells in the airways, and how it drives the changes that make breathing difficult. We also want to see if blocking LIGHT, especially when combined with current steroid treatments, can reduce these airway changes in severe asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that target the underlying causes of severe asthma, potentially improving breathing and reducing resistance to current therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of LIGHT in severe asthma is a novel focus, other studies have explored targeting specific immune pathways in asthma with varying degrees of success.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herro, Rana Elias — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Herro, Rana Elias
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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.