Asthma Clinical Research Studies

Lurie Children’s Division of Allergy and Immunology is at the cutting edge of asthma clinical research. We offer our patients with asthma the newest treatments as well as opportunities to be part of studies in hopes to discover more treatments and a cure. 

We are currently recruiting patients in numerous asthma studies. Learn more about our current trials:

Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings (CAUSE)

Lurie Children’s is part of a nationwide consortium funded by the NIH / NIAID called CAUSE (Childhood asthma in Urban settings) which includes 7 other sites in cities across the US (Boston, DC, Cincinnati, NYC, Colorado, and Chicago). The purpose of this consortium is to extend on 30 years of studies by the NIAID and inner city asthma investigators to decrease asthma effects in urban children who represent a disproportionate number of cases, and have worse disease. The consortium also seeks to understand the mechanisms by which asthma has worse control in urban children and to develop new strategies to combat asthma in these children. Click here for the full study information or call 312.227.6451. 

Current studies included under CAUSE:

SIRA: Soy Isoflavones For Inner City Infants At Risk For Asthma (SIRA) Study

Principal Investigator: Rajesh Kumar, MD
Brief Description of Study: We are looking to recruit inner-city infants at high-risk for asthma and will test if they have a gene variant that increases asthma risk. If they have that variant, we will give a soy isoflavones supplement that may decrease the risk of progression to asthma. This study will analyze if the soy isoflavones based treatment helps prevent asthmatic airway inflammation and wheeze that lead to asthma.
Key Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Enrolling term infants (born ≥37 weeks) before they turn 12 months old. Need at least one parent with a history of asthma OR infant is diagnosed with atopic dermatitis/eczema
Contact: Caroline Merck at cmerck@luriechildrens.org

GSV: Genes, Soy isoflavones, and Virus - Preventing Airway Remodeling, Asthma, and Wheezing (GSV) Study

Principal Investigator: Rajesh Kumar, MD
Brief Description of Study: We are looking to recruit infants presenting to the Lurie Children’s Hospital ED for acute viral lower respiratory tract infections and will analyze if a soy isoflavones based treatment helps prevent asthmatic airway inflammation and wheeze that lead to asthma.
Key Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Enrolling term infants (born ≥37 weeks) aged 4- 24 months old who are presenting to the Lurie Children’s Hospital ED for an acute viral lower respiratory tract infection.
Contact: Caroline Merck at cmerck@luriechildrens.org

CHEETAH: Mechanisms Underlying Asthma Symptoms and Exacerbations Examined Across T2 Status in Children

Principal Investigator: Rajesh Kumar, MD
Brief Description of Study: This study follows children over time to determine whether specific types of airway inflammation are associated with asthma symptoms, lung function, and flare ups. This study will also determine if certain types of inflammatory changes increase the risk of asthma exacerbations (flare ups).
Key Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Kids ages 6-17 years with diagnosed asthma on a daily controller medicine. Additionally, participants need to have an eosinophil blood level in a certain range. These white blood cells can make children more prone to asthma exacerbations.
Contact: asthmaresearch@luriechildrens.org or 312.227.6451