Who Runs Asthma Trials and What Are They Testing
The landscape of asthma research in the United States has shifted noticeably in the past few years. Where older trials focused heavily on inhaler comparisons, current studies are more likely to investigate biologic therapies — medications that target specific immune pathways involved in allergic and eosinophilic asthma. Drugs like tezepelumab, dupilumab, and omalizumab have already changed how severe asthma is managed, and researchers are now asking whether these same agents can prevent asthma from developing in young children or whether patients can safely reduce their background medications after starting a biologic.
The American Lung Association operates a network of Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) across the country, with sites in Tucson, Chicago, New York, Durham, and Burlington. These centers run trials like TRIM (Trial of Roflumilast in Asthma Management), which is currently recruiting adults with poorly controlled asthma and elevated BMI. Academic medical centers — Boston Children's Hospital, the University of Michigan, Northwestern — run their own studies, often in partnership with pharmaceutical sponsors such as AstraZeneca or Genentech. Private research clinics like Epic Medical Research in Texas also enroll patients across multiple Phase II through Phase IV trials.
What you will encounter depends on the trial phase. A Phase II study typically tests whether a drug works in a small group and identifies the right dose. A Phase III trial compares the new treatment against a placebo or existing standard of care in hundreds or thousands of participants. Phase IV studies happen after FDA approval and look at long-term safety or new populations — for example, how a drug approved for adults performs in adolescents.
Not every trial tests a new drug. Some examine whether stepping down maintenance therapy is safe after a biologic has controlled symptoms. Others compare different inhaler combinations or study how environmental interventions reduce exacerbation rates. The University of Arizona's Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, for instance, has studied everything from dietary interventions to air filtration strategies.
Finding a Trial That Fits
ClinicalTrials.gov remains the most complete registry. You can filter by condition (asthma), recruitment status (recruiting or not yet recruiting), location (United States, then by state or city), and study type. The search function accepts operators like AND, OR, and NOT — typing "asthma AND biologic AND California" will narrow results considerably.
The American Lung Association's clinical trial finder is less comprehensive but more user-friendly. Each listing includes plain-language descriptions of the study purpose, eligibility criteria, and contact information for the research coordinator at each site. Specialty clinics and allergy practices also post trial opportunities on their own websites — Midwest Allergy Sinus Asthma in Illinois, for example, lists a teen and adult asthma study for ages 12 to 80 that is currently enrolling.
A practical tip: research coordinators are the people you will actually speak with, and they are generally responsive to email. If a trial listing catches your eye, send a brief message asking whether you might qualify. They will walk you through a pre-screening questionnaire over the phone — things like your age, asthma history, current medications, and smoking status. This initial call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes and does not commit you to anything.
| Trial Type | Example | Typical Duration | Participant Profile | Key Consideration |
|---|
| Biologic therapy study | Tezepelumab Phase IIIb | 1-2 years | Moderate to severe asthma, often eosinophilic | May require regular injection visits |
| Pediatric prevention trial | Omalizumab in preschoolers | 2-4 years | Children ages 2-4 with wheezing and allergies | Long commitment, parent involvement required |
| Inhaler comparison study | Breztri triple therapy trials | 3-12 months | Adults with uncontrolled asthma on dual therapy | Often less restrictive eligibility |
| Lifestyle intervention | Diet/exercise and asthma outcomes | 6-12 months | Broad eligibility, often mild to moderate asthma | Lower medical risk, but less direct treatment benefit |
| Healthy volunteer study | Bronchoscopy research | 1-2 visits | Adults 18-40, healthy or mild asthma | Higher compensation for brief participation |
What Participation Actually Looks Like
Maria, a 34-year-old teacher in Chicago, enrolled in a biologic trial after her asthma sent her to urgent care three times in one winter. "I was nervous about the placebo possibility," she said, "but the coordinator explained I would stay on my regular inhaler regardless. The study drug was on top of what I was already taking." That detail — that trials rarely ask you to abandon your current treatment — is one many prospective participants miss.
The first visit is typically the longest. You will undergo an informed consent process where a research coordinator or physician explains the study in detail, including every procedure, the schedule of visits, and potential risks. You sign a consent form, but you can withdraw at any time. After consent, expect a physical exam, blood work, breathing tests (spirometry), and possibly a review of your medical records. Some studies also require an electrocardiogram or chest X-ray.
During the treatment period, visits might be monthly or quarterly. You may receive injections, take oral medication, or use a specific inhaler. Some trials ask you to keep a daily asthma diary — tracking peak flow readings, symptoms, and rescue inhaler use. Others use smartphone apps or wearable devices to collect data. The more data a trial collects, the more visit time it tends to require.
Blood draws are common. A few studies involve more invasive procedures. The EPA's asthma research program at UNC-Chapel Hill, for example, has conducted studies requiring bronchoscopy — a procedure where a thin tube with a camera is inserted into the airways. These studies typically compensate participants more because of the procedure's intensity.
Compensation: What to Expect
Compensation structures vary widely. The Boston Children's Hospital PARK study, which follows young children on omalizumab over four years, offers total compensation of approximately $2,560 in gift cards spread across all visits and phone calls. Adult trials at private research clinics often pay per visit, with amounts that reflect the time and inconvenience involved — a short monitoring visit might be compensated differently than a full-day session with multiple procedures.
Some trials cover travel costs and parking separately. Others bundle everything into a single payment. The EPA study at UNC offered approximately $475 for completing a bronchoscopy procedure, which included a screening visit and a 48-hour local stay requirement. These numbers are not standardized across sites or sponsors, and coordinators will give you exact figures during the screening process.
It is important to note that compensation is not a salary — it is meant to offset your time and expenses. The IRS considers some trial payments taxable, particularly if they exceed a certain threshold, but most smaller payments do not trigger reporting requirements. If you are concerned, ask the research team whether they issue 1099 forms.
Insurance is generally not billed for trial-related procedures. The study sponsor covers the cost of the investigational drug, study visits, and any tests required by the protocol. Your regular asthma medications, however, may still go through your insurance as usual.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Sign
A good research coordinator expects questions and will answer them without rushing you. Here are a few worth raising:
What happens if my asthma worsens during the trial? Most protocols include rescue plans — additional medications, unscheduled visits, or withdrawal from the study if your symptoms become dangerous. Ask who you call after hours.
Will I know if I am receiving the placebo? In blinded studies, neither you nor the research team knows until the trial concludes. Some trials have an open-label extension phase where all participants receive the active drug after the blinded portion ends — ask if this is planned.
What happens when the trial ends? Some sponsors continue providing the medication for a period after the study concludes. Others do not. If the drug is FDA-approved by then, you might transition to a commercial prescription. If it is still investigational, access may end.
Can I stay with my regular doctor? Yes, and you should. Trial participation is supplementary to your existing care. The research team will often ask permission to communicate with your primary physician or pulmonologist.
The Broader Picture
The asthma trial landscape in 2026 reflects a field that is increasingly focused on precision medicine — matching the right treatment to the right patient based on biomarkers like blood eosinophil counts or fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels. The recent FDA approval of Breztri (a triple-combination inhaler) for asthma in patients 12 and older, based on the KALOS and LOGOS Phase III trials, illustrates how research continues to expand the options available outside of clinical studies as well.
For some people, a clinical trial is a way to access treatments that are years away from pharmacy shelves. For others, it is a way to contribute knowledge while receiving close medical attention at no personal cost. Neither motivation is more valid than the other. What matters is understanding what you are signing up for, asking the questions that matter to you, and knowing that you can step away at any point.
研究の知恵