Understanding how GLP-1 medicines help with asthma in people who are lean or have obesity
Official title: GLP-1R agonist immune targets in lean and obesity-associated asthma
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11171513 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to discover how existing GLP-1 medicines, used for diabetes and obesity, can also help reduce inflammation in people with asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $745,797 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI182159-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171513 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms and may eventually benefit patients with asthma, regardless of whether they are lean or have obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have asthma or conditions related to GLP-1R agonist use would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We know that certain medicines called GLP-1R agonists, already approved for conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity, show promise for treating asthma. However, we don't fully understand how these medicines work to calm airway inflammation. This project seeks to identify the specific immune cells and processes that GLP-1R agonists affect in asthma. By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to improve how these medicines can be used to help both lean and obese patients manage their asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective ways to use existing GLP-1R agonist medications to treat asthma, potentially offering better relief from inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and clinical studies have already shown that GLP-1R agonists are a promising new treatment approach for asthma, though the exact mechanisms are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cahill, Katherine N — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Cahill, Katherine N
Related research
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GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
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Researchers are testing whether popular diabetes drugs that activate GLP-1 receptors can reduce airway inflammation and help adults with asthma, including those who are lean or overweight.
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This project looks at whether the higher insulin that comes with obesity makes airway nerves cause tighter breathing in people with obesity-related asthma.
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This study is looking at how a medication called GLP-1RA might help adults with asthma related to obesity by improving their breathing and reducing inflammation, and if you join, you'll take either the medication or a placebo for 12 weeks to see how it works for you.
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This study is looking at how insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes impact asthma control in people with obesity who have asthma, especially those getting weight loss surgery, to help understand how these conditions might affect their breathing and overall health.
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.