University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Research

In patients with established asthma, obesity and weight gain have been associated with increased asthma severity. The National Asthma Survey showed that compared to lean asthmatic subjects, obese asthmatic subjects are more likely to report continuous respiratory symptoms, experience a higher rate of nocturnal respiratory symptoms and suffer asthma exacerbations that required emergency room evaluation or hospitalization within the last 12 months. Even small weight increments can worsen asthma—severe asthmatic subjects who gained 5 pounds in a 12-month period reported worse asthma control and asthma-related quality of life, as well as a greater number of steroid bursts than patients who either maintained or lost weight. Weight loss induced by diet or surgery has shown to improve asthma control and lung function and reduce morbidity. Together, these data convincingly demonstrate that there is a causative association between excess body weight and increased asthma morbidity.

Our research focuses on helping these patients find medicines, medication supplements, and lifestyle changes that work for them to better manage their asthma.

How to Find More Information on our Studies:

CURRENT

Study Title: Study to improve dEployment related Asthma by using L-citrulline Supplementation (SEALS)
NCT Number: NCT05259904

ClinicalTrials.gov
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05259904?term=NCT05259904&draw=2&rank=1
Study Title: LIMA: Lipid anti-Inflammatory Mediators in Asthma to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness in obese asthmatics
NCT Number: NCT03762395

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/h3W22BkkQkqiyL2npO8Enw/project-details/10369934

ClinicalTrials.gov
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03762395?term=NCT03762395&draw=2&rank=1
The American Lung Association (ALA) Lung Health Cohort
NCT Number: NCT04543461

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/a-YdhbFLZkGgIRb_md93ig/project-details/10465070
Study Title: Obesity, Metabolic Dysregulation and the Airway Epithelium in Asthmatics
NCT Number: NCT03215836

ClinicalTrials.gov
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03215836?term=NCT03215836&draw=2&rank=1
Study Title: Supplementing L-citrulline to Overweight Late Asthma oNset Phenotypes (SANDIA)
NCT Number: NCT03885245

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/O5H5X4R5lUi2bxr8JemDXA/project-details/10226815

ClinicalTrials.gov:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03885245?term=NCT03885245&draw=2&rank=1
Study Title: Parkin in mitochondrial dysfunction and airway inflammation of obese asthma

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/O5H5X4R5lUi2bxr8JemDXA/project-details/10264924
Study Title: PrecISE (Precision Interventions for Severe and/or Exacerbation-Prone Asthma) Network Study
NCT Number: NCT04129931

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/5pQsoY1jkUGleGAzmFbfdQ/project-details/10219823

ClinicalTrials.gov:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04129931?term=NCT04129931&draw=2&rank=1
Study Title: Data, Modeling,and Coordination Center for PrecISE Network

NIH Reporter:
https://reporter.nih.gov/search/5pQsoY1jkUGleGAzmFbfdQ/project-details/10489687

Study Title: Interactions of IFN-g/IL-36, succinate and palmitic acid pathways in obese asthma

This ASPIRE grant brings together a highly experienced group of investigators from National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado with complementary skills and a strong record of working together. The goal of this team science grant is to generate preliminary data and publications for submitting a collaborative large-scale NIH grant application (e.g., P01, U19) in the area of obese asthma translational research. Specifically, we will determine the mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for type 1 inflammation-high obese asthma endotype/phenotype that is refractory to current asthma therapies.

UPCOMING