Epigenetics of Severe Asthma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Epigenetics of Severe Asthma
IRAS ID
237109
Contact name
S. Hasan Arshad
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Severe asthma causes a considerable health-economic burden at both the individual and societal levels, including disability, missed schooling and lost work days. The growing realisation that severe asthma is not one condition but composed of numerous subtypes (phenotypes) has aided our clinical understanding. However, treatment options are limited for what still remains a challenging problem in clinical practice. Our evolving understanding of the diversity of asthma has led to seminal discoveries from the genetic revolution, recognising that genetic predisposition and environmental exposure (epigenetics) can influence the nature and course of the disease. This study aims to identify genetic and epigenetic markers associated with severe asthma and assess their function and clinical relevance. This will help to improve our understanding of severe asthma and may also reveal potential novel targets for future personalised treatments. We will invite participants from the following two established and extensively characterised cohorts to take part in the study.
1. The WATCH study (Wessex AsThma CoHort) has 350 enrolled participants with severe asthma from the Severe Asthma Clinic at University Hospital Southampton.
2. The Isle of Wight Whole Population Birth Cohort includes 130 current mild asthmatics at the David Hide Asthma and Allergy Centre, Isle of Wight.
Sampling (blood, sputum and airway) will be undertaken over 2-3 visits, to provide material for genetic, epigenetic and immunological assessments which will be performed at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, San Diego,USA. Specialised DNA and RNA sequencing platforms will be used to identify genetic and epigenetic changes in immune cells driving the asthma process. We will also assess if oral steroids and the biological asthma treatments have any influence on the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur in severe asthma. In summary, this study will help to further develop our understanding of severe asthma at a molecular level.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0105
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion