Breathing Together
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pulmonary epithelial barrier and immunological functions at birth and in early life - key determinants of the development of asthma?
IRAS ID
199053
Contact name
Andrew Bush
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND The cells that line the airways act as a barrier to infections and proteins that cause allergy, and also release a host of signalling molecules. We know that these airway cells in children with established asthma react abnormally to viruses, but we do not know if this is cause or consequence of asthma. Also, little is known about how the immune system develops in newborn babies and how it responds to the bacteria which we all meet.
RESEARCH QUESTION We want to know why some babies wheeze and some of these go on to develop asthma, because we have no cure for established asthma, and children who develop asthma have a lifelong early loss of lung function. We are going to find out if babies who develop wheeze and asthma have abnormal airway lining cells (taken from the nose) when they are born and what happens to these cells as they get older.
WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE Healthy newborn babies.
WHERE WILL WE ENROL Five hospital maternity units.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO The study will last three years. Parents will be asked to fill in a health questionnaire. The tests on the babies are all in routine clinical use: a urine sample, a blood test from a heelprick (done on all babies in first week), swabs from the nose and throat to look for infection, and a brushing of the inside of the nose. These tests will be performed at the time of the routine baby blood test (about 7 days of age); and at one and three years. Parents will be asked to fill in online monthly health questionnaire. Some babies will have the swabs repeated at 3 and 6 months, and those who wheeze in the first six months of life, samples during the illness and after recovery.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1518
Date of REC Opinion
5 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion