The Current Research Landscape
Asthma research in the US has shifted noticeably in the past several years. Where once the focus was almost entirely on inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, the expansion of biologic therapies has created an entirely different conversation. Drugs like dupilumab, omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, and tezepelumab now populate study registries, each targeting distinct inflammatory pathways. A meta-analysis published in Advances in Therapy examined how these biologics reduce exacerbations requiring hospitalization or emergency department visits, and the findings underscore why so many trials are actively recruiting: researchers are still refining which patients benefit most from which mechanism.
The American Lung Association, through its Airways Clinical Research Centers network, is currently running studies like the Trial of Roflumilast in Asthma Management at five locations including Duke University, Northwestern, and the University of Arizona. Academic hubs such as Mount Sinai, UC San Diego, and Weill Cornell Medicine are separately investigating everything from bronchial tissue responses to self-management interventions for asthma. These sites are not hypothetical enrollment targets. They are active, with coordinators available by phone and email.
Types of Asthma Trials and Who They Suit
The variety of trial designs can be surprising. Some studies test an investigational drug against a placebo, while others compare an existing medication against a newer option. There are also behavioral trials that examine whether structured education or self-management coaching improves outcomes, and device studies that evaluate inhaler technique or novel delivery systems.
Biologic trials dominate the severe asthma space. Tezepelumab studies, for instance, are exploring whether patients can safely reduce their background maintenance therapy once the biologic is on board. Dupilumab research continues to expand beyond its initial approvals, and benralizumab is being studied in populations that have historically been underrepresented in earlier trials. These studies typically require participants to have documented eosinophil counts, exacerbation history, and a specific level of asthma control as measured by standardized questionnaires like the ACQ-5.
The table below outlines the broad categories of asthma trials available in the US, along with what potential participants can generally expect.
| Trial Type | Example Focus | Typical Duration | Participant Profile | Key Consideration |
|---|
| Biologic (Phase III) | Tezepelumab, dupilumab, benralizumab | 24–52 weeks | Moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma despite ICS/LABA | May require regular clinic visits for injections |
| Inhaled Therapy | Novel ICS/LABA combinations | 12–24 weeks | Mild-to-moderate persistent asthma | Often compares against established inhalers |
| Behavioral / Self-Management | Education programs, inhaler technique coaching | 3–6 months | Any asthma severity | No experimental drug exposure; lower medical risk |
| Device / Delivery | Smart inhalers, nebulizer systems | 4–12 weeks | Variable; often includes pediatric populations | May involve daily symptom logging |
| Observational / Registry | Long-term biologic safety | 2–5 years | Patients already on approved biologics | No intervention change; data collection only |
What Participation Actually Looks Like
The enrollment process starts with a screening visit. A research coordinator reviews your medical history, confirms your asthma diagnosis, and runs tests that often include spirometry with reversibility, blood work for eosinophil counts or IgE levels, and the completion of symptom questionnaires. You will likely be asked about your exacerbation history in the past 12 months, as many trials require at least one documented flare that needed systemic steroids or an emergency visit.
If you meet the criteria, the trial itself unfolds in phases. There is a run-in period in some studies, where you continue your current medications while researchers establish your baseline. Then comes the treatment phase, which may be blinded, meaning neither you nor the study team knows whether you are receiving the investigational drug or placebo. Visits can range from weekly to every few months, depending on the protocol. Between visits, you might keep a symptom diary or use a peak flow meter at home.
The question of cost comes up often. In most interventional trials, the study sponsor covers the investigational drug, study-related lab work, and study-specific procedures. Routine care that you would need regardless of the trial typically remains your responsibility, billed through your usual insurance. Some studies provide compensation for time and travel. Based on publicly listed information, amounts vary widely. A shorter study involving a few visits might offer a modest per-visit stipend, while longer biologic trials with numerous onsite appointments can provide more substantial reimbursement. Weill Cornell Medicine, for example, lists $50 for completing an initial medical exam and $200 for a bronchoscopy in its lung disease research program. Other centers have advertised up to $1,100 for asthma trials (Clinical Research of West Florida) and up to $1,350 (University of Wisconsin). Longer commitment studies, such as those requiring 26 visits over 22 months, have been reported to offer higher overall compensation. These figures should be confirmed directly with the study site, as they depend on the specific protocol and budget.
Finding Trials and Making Contact
ClinicalTrials.gov remains the most comprehensive registry of studies in the United States. It is maintained by the National Library of Medicine and allows you to filter by condition, location, recruitment status, and phase. Typing "asthma" and your city or state into the search bar will surface active and upcoming trials near you, complete with contact information for the study coordinator.
Beyond the federal registry, the American Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers network spans multiple states, including Arizona, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, and Vermont. Each center has a dedicated coordinator who can discuss open studies and eligibility over the phone. Major academic medical centers—University of California San Diego, Northwestern University, Duke University, and Mount Sinai among them—also maintain their own clinical trial portals where asthma studies are listed alongside other pulmonary research.
A practical approach that many applicants find useful is to prepare a short summary of your asthma history before reaching out. Include your current medications and doses, the date of your last exacerbation, and any relevant test results such as recent spirometry or eosinophil counts. This saves time during the initial phone screening. Expect that you may not qualify for the first study you inquire about. Trial eligibility criteria are deliberately narrow, and being declined does not reflect on the severity of your asthma; it simply means that particular protocol was not designed for your profile.
Real Experiences and Considerations
Take Maria, a 42-year-old in Chicago who had been on high-dose ICS/LABA for three years and still needed prednisone bursts twice a year. She found a biologic trial through Northwestern's airways disease center and was enrolled after a screening that confirmed her eosinophil levels met the study threshold. The trial required monthly infusion visits, which she scheduled around her work as a school administrator. Her asthma control improved enough that she discontinued oral steroids entirely during the study period. She acknowledges that the time commitment was significant but says the structured follow-up and access to the study team gave her a level of monitoring she had never experienced in routine care.
On the other hand, David, a 58-year-old in Arizona, applied for a roflumilast trial at the University of Arizona and was not eligible because his BMI fell below the study cutoff. He was disappointed but the coordinator referred him to another observational study at the same center, which he joined a few months later. His advice: treat the initial screening call as a two-way conversation. Ask about visit frequency, parking, and whether telehealth follow-ups are allowed. The logistics matter as much as the science when you are committing months of your life to a study.
Moving Forward
If you are considering a trial, start by writing down your current medications, your most recent FEV1 if you know it, and the number of exacerbations you have had in the past year. Open ClinicalTrials.gov and search for asthma studies recruiting within a distance you can reasonably travel. Note the NCT numbers of any that interest you and call the listed contact. Some sites also accept inquiries through their institutional websites.
Ask the coordinator these questions before you commit: what is the total number of visits, how long does each visit last, what happens if your asthma worsens during the trial, and whether you can continue seeing your regular pulmonologist. The answers will help you weigh the burden against the potential benefit. You are not obligated to stay in a trial once enrolled; you can withdraw at any time without affecting your usual medical care.
The landscape of asthma research in the US is active and varied, with opportunities that range from short-term device studies to multi-year biologic registries. Whether you are looking for access to a treatment not yet widely available, hoping to contribute to the science, or simply seeking more structured monitoring of your condition, there is likely a trial that aligns with your situation. The first step is reaching out.
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