|
The Center will support and encourage development of collaborations between basic and clinical scientists in the diagnosis, course, clinical manifestations and treatment of asthma to improve prevention, onset, progression and treatment of asthma, airway hyperresonsiveness and airway inflammation. Inflammatory responses mediated both through combined immune and neural mechanisms are still not well characterized.
Studies on the unique susceptibility of children involving interactions between lung growth and development, environmental exposure, and genetic background, represent a unique and important area of research focus. Environmental exposures to air pollution (ozone, diesel, wood smoke, cigarette smoke) and allergens (animal dander, house dust mite), as well as exposure to occupational pollutants (toluene diisocyanate, endotoxin) are health risks that produce symptoms of asthma in people.
Translational efforts focus on opportunities to evaluate airway biopsy samples to examine and possible confirm genetic or signaling pathways, especially those related to airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodeling, that are revealed in animal studies. Lavage fluid from humans could also be collected for analysis of inflammatory cells and for analysis of mediators released to the airways. New treatment modalities might be investigated, such as delivery of receptor antagonists or siRNA sequences through the airway to control or regulate asthmatic exacerbations or mitigate the detrimental effects of airway remodeling.
| Click on booklet image below to find out interesting facts on The Burden of Asthma in West Virginia. |
|
