Exploring the link between onset of airway scarring, inflammation and abnormal lung function in asthma

Severe wheezing in infants is a common problem. Although many children grow out of their symptoms by the age of six, others continue to have symptoms and develop true asthma. Most of these children are born with normal airways, but have suffered lung damage by the age of six which never gets better. This suggests that the key time for trying to stop permanent lung damage is during the pre-school years.

Dr Saglani and her team have shown that young children with severe, recurrent wheezing and likely future asthmatics do not have scarred or inflamed airways in infancy (about one year old), but show both of these by about three years old. Other studies have shown this is also the age when these children develop impaired lung function - in other words, their lungs stop working to their full capacity. The research team will be investigating how the scarring and inflammation in these children's airways links to the decrease in lung function. This will also allow the researchers to start looking for treatments which will prevent long-term lung damage.

This study also aims to develop new ways to identify which children will go on to develop asthma. This will allow treatment to be started early and help prevent or minimise the degree of permanent lung damage that occurs as a result of severe asthma in childhood.

Grant: Research Fellowship
Duration: 36 months
Amount awarded: £119,527
Relevant disease area(s): asthma
Relevant age group(s): all