Why Asthma Research Matters Right Now
Asthma affects roughly 25 million people across the United States, yet the experience of the condition varies dramatically depending on where you live, what triggers your symptoms, and how your body responds to standard treatments. In the Southwest, for instance, dust and dry air drive a different set of challenges than the mold-heavy humidity of the Southeast. Researchers have taken notice, and trial sites now span the country—from the University of Arizona's Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center in Tucson to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
The range of investigational treatments being studied has expanded considerably. Where older trials focused heavily on inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, current studies are testing biologic therapies that target specific inflammatory pathways. Tezepelumab, marketed as TEZSPIRE, is one such biologic already under investigation in a Phase IIIb trial through Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, exploring whether patients can reduce their maintenance therapy without losing asthma control. Eli Lilly is running a Phase 2 multicenter study on brenipatide for moderate-to-severe asthma across 115 locations nationwide, including sites in Arizona, California, and beyond. Generate Biomedicines has a trial underway for GB-0895, an adjunctive therapy for adolescents and adults with severe uncontrolled asthma. The American Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) network is conducting the TRIM trial—testing roflumilast for adults with poorly controlled asthma and elevated BMI—across five clinical centers in North Carolina, New York, Illinois, Arizona, and Vermont.
The common thread running through these studies is a shift away from merely managing symptoms toward addressing the underlying inflammatory mechanisms. For someone whose asthma has stopped responding to conventional controllers, that shift can mean the difference between constant limitation and a more normal daily life.
The Real-World Experience of Joining a Trial
Most people picture clinical trials as something that happens in a sterile hospital basement, disconnected from the realities of everyday life. The truth is considerably more practical. When you contact a research site—whether it is Epic Medical Research, which runs Phase II–IV asthma trials, or the Asthma and Allergy Clinical Research Center at Boston Children's Hospital—the process typically begins with a screening call.
A coordinator will ask about your diagnosis, current medications, symptom frequency, and medical history. If you appear to match the study's criteria, you will be invited for a screening visit. That visit usually includes pulmonary function tests, a physical exam, blood work, and a review of your medical records. No cost is attached to any of this. The screening visit also serves as your opportunity to ask the questions that matter: How many visits are required? Will I need to stop my current medication? What happens if my symptoms worsen during the trial?
One participant at a Brigham and Women's Hospital asthma study described the experience as "far more supportive than I expected—the team treated me with genuine care, and I felt heard at every step." Another noted that the regular monitoring provided a level of attention she had never received from her routine clinic visits.
That said, the time commitment is real. Some trials, like the AMG 691 study for mild to moderate asthma, require 19 clinic visits over 46 weeks, including an overnight inpatient stay. Others involve shorter visits but stretch across multiple years. The key is understanding what you are signing up for before you commit.
A Closer Look at What Different Trials Offer
Not all asthma clinical trials are created equal, and the differences matter when you are deciding whether to participate.
| Trial Type | Example Study | Typical Duration | Who It May Suit | Key Considerations |
|---|
| Biologic (injectable) | Tezepelumab Phase IIIb (AstraZeneca) | 12–24 months | Severe, uncontrolled asthma | Injections at clinic; may reduce need for other medications |
| Oral medication | Roflumilast TRIM trial (ALA ACRC) | 6–12 months | Poorly controlled asthma with elevated BMI | Daily pill; available at select research centers |
| Inhaler-based | Various Phase II–IV studies | 4–52 weeks | Mild to moderate asthma | Familiar delivery method; often compares new formulation to existing |
| Screening/observational | UVA screening protocol | 1–3 visits | Mild allergic asthma | Short commitment; may lead to eligibility for future studies |
| Pediatric-focused | PRAGMATIC trial (Montefiore) | Multi-year | Children ages 2–12 with persistent asthma | Technology-based intervention; urban primary care setting |
Compensation varies by study length and intensity. Shorter screening protocols may offer modest amounts for time and travel. Longer interventional trials often provide more substantial compensation—some research centers, such as Brigham and Women's Hospital, have offered compensation in the range of a few thousand dollars for studies requiring multiple visits over a year or more. Boston Children's Hospital notes that participants may receive compensation for their time, along with reimbursements for parking and transportation. The study drug, study-related tests, and all study visits are provided at no charge to the participant.
Finding Trials That Fit Your Situation
The starting point for most people is ClinicalTrials.gov, a database maintained by the National Library of Medicine. Searching "asthma" with filters for "recruiting" and your state will surface dozens of active studies. The interface can feel overwhelming at first—each listing comes with dense inclusion and exclusion criteria—but the information is thorough and regularly updated.
Beyond the federal database, several focused resources are worth knowing about. The American Lung Association's ACRC network lists active trials with direct contact information for each research center. Pfizer's clinical trials portal provides a straightforward eligibility checker for its asthma studies. Academic medical centers—including those at the University of Virginia, Duke University, Northwestern, and the Mayo Clinic—maintain their own listings of respiratory research.
For those who prefer a more guided approach, organizations like Epic Medical Research offer a free screening visit where a research team evaluates your medical history against current trials. The process can feel less like searching alone and more like having a guide.
If you are specifically looking for asthma clinical trials near me, type your city or ZIP code into ClinicalTrials.gov or contact the nearest major academic hospital's pulmonology department. Many trials are concentrated in metropolitan areas—Phoenix, Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Houston all host multiple active studies—but research networks also reach into suburban and rural communities through satellite clinics.
What to Expect Step by Step
The path from curiosity to enrollment follows a fairly consistent pattern across most U.S. research sites.
Screening and consent. After an initial phone or online inquiry, you will receive a detailed explanation of the study. This is called the informed consent process, and it is designed to ensure you understand the purpose, procedures, risks, and potential benefits before agreeing to participate. You can withdraw at any point.
Baseline assessment. If you consent and meet the preliminary criteria, the research team will perform a thorough baseline evaluation. Expect lung function testing (spirometry), allergy testing if relevant, blood draws, and a review of your asthma history. Some trials require a bronchial challenge test to confirm airway hyperresponsiveness.
Randomization and treatment. In randomized controlled trials, you will be assigned to either the investigational treatment group or a control group. The control group may receive a placebo or a standard-of-care treatment, depending on the study design. The study team will explain which applies to your trial.
Monitoring and follow-up. Throughout the study, you will attend regular visits where the team tracks your symptoms, lung function, and any side effects. Many trials now incorporate electronic diaries—daily logs completed via smartphone app—to capture real-time symptom data between visits.
One practical note: if you are currently on a stable medication regimen, do not stop taking your prescribed medications to join a trial. Most studies require participants to remain on their existing controller therapy while the investigational treatment is added. The research team will give you clear instructions on what to continue and what to adjust.
Who These Trials Are Designed For
The range of asthma severity represented in current U.S. trials is broad, but the most active area of research targets moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma. If you have needed oral steroids for an asthma flare in the past 12 months, or if you use a rescue inhaler more than twice a week despite daily controller medication, you may match the profile many studies are seeking.
Pediatric trials are also widely available. The PRAGMATIC study at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, for example, focuses on children ages 2 to 12 with persistent or uncontrolled asthma, testing whether a technology-based prompting intervention can improve guideline-based care in urban primary care settings. Boston Children's Hospital runs a range of pediatric and adult asthma studies, with a particular focus on how environmental and genetic factors shape the condition.
There are trials for mild asthma too. The UVA screening protocol actively recruits adults aged 18 to 65 with mild allergic asthma for future respiratory research, and the compensation for screening visits is modest but real.
The eligibility criteria often include specifics like non-smoking status, a confirmed physician diagnosis, and a minimum duration since diagnosis—typically at least one year. Age ranges vary: some trials enroll adolescents as young as 12, while others set the floor at 18. The ceiling can reach 80 in some studies, reflecting the growing recognition that asthma affects older adults in ways that deserve dedicated research.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Enroll
Walking into a screening visit with a clear set of questions can make the difference between a good experience and a frustrating one. Here are a few that experienced participants recommend:
What is the phase of this trial, and what does that mean for my safety? Phase I studies are primarily about safety and dosing, while Phase III and IV studies usually involve treatments that have already been tested in hundreds of people.
How many visits will I need, and how long does each last? Some trials require weekly visits; others are monthly. Factor in travel time, parking, and the logistics of taking time off work.
What happens to my asthma care after the trial ends? This is one of the most overlooked questions. Some studies include an open-label extension, allowing participants to continue receiving the investigational treatment after the main trial concludes. Others do not.
Can I keep seeing my regular doctor? Yes, and you should. The research team will coordinate with your primary care provider or pulmonologist, but the trial does not replace your usual medical care.
Where to Look Right Now
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) continues to fund a broad portfolio of asthma research, including the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP), which has advanced the understanding of asthma subtypes and personalized treatment approaches. The institute's Learn More Breathe Better program offers educational resources for patients considering research participation.
For those ready to explore current opportunities, ClinicalTrials.gov remains the most comprehensive resource. The American Lung Association's clinical trials finder provides a more curated experience, listing only studies within its ACRC network with direct contact details for each site. Pfizer's clinical trials portal, Eli Lilly's trial finder, and individual academic centers all maintain up-to-date listings.
The process of finding and joining an asthma clinical trial takes some effort, but for many participants, the combination of expert medical attention, access to cutting-edge treatments, and the chance to contribute to science that may help millions of others makes that effort worthwhile. Asthma research is moving quickly—and the studies enrolling today may shape the standard of care for years to come.
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