Why some children have frequent asthma attacks
Multi-omics of the Frequent Exacerbator Asthmatic
This project looks at genes, microbes, and molecules in children with asthma who have frequent attacks to find patterns linked to repeat exacerbations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321584 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child has asthma, researchers may ask for medical records and small samples such as blood, nasal swabs, and saliva during clinic visits. They will compare children who have had two or more asthma attacks a year with those who have fewer attacks using multiple 'omics' tests (for example, genetics, microbiome, and metabolite profiles) to find biological differences. The team will combine those lab results with clinical and demographic information to search for patterns that predict repeat exacerbations. The work focuses on children in the Cincinnati area, with attention to urban and low-income populations with high asthma burdens.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with asthma—especially those who have had two or more exacerbations in the past year or who receive care at Cincinnati Children's—are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children without asthma, adults, or children whose asthma is consistently well controlled with no recent exacerbations are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could lead to tests or tailored treatments that better predict and prevent repeat asthma attacks in children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked microbes and genetics to asthma risk, but combining multiple omics to explain frequent pediatric exacerbations is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khurana Hershey, Gurjit K. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Khurana Hershey, Gurjit K.
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.