The Asthma Research Center at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in conjunction with the Partners Asthma Center is dedicated toward conducting research that advances our treatment and understanding of asthma. Our research investigations are aimed at determining how to best use drugs currently available for the treatment of asthma, examining the potential effectiveness of new therapies in asthma, and trying to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of asthma in the hope of developing new therapies. The Asthma Research Center is also a participant in the Asthma Clinical Research Network which is a six center nation wide network sponsored by the National Institutes of Health dedicated to conducting well designed clinical trials for rapid evaluation of new and existing therapeutic approaches for asthma and for dissemination of laboratory and clinical findings to the health care community.

The information that follows outlines some of the studies in which we are currently involved, have completed or or will be undertaking in the near future. This list is not exhaustive, so if you live in the greater Boston area and would be interested in possibly participating in a study, or being included in a database to be contacted regarding future studies, please call us at 617-732-8201 or Email us at:

AsthmaResearchCenter

After we hear from you we will send you information to fill out so you can be included in our database.

Current Clinical Trials:

The following is a current list of our studies at the Asthma Research Center. All studies are open for enrollment, unless otherwise noted. The Asthma Research Center runs multiple studies and each study varies in duration and compensation is up to $1250 for your time and effort. To see if you are eligible for any of our studies, please contact us.

Antibiotics for Asthma

The purpose of the study is to determine whether asthmatics might benefit from adding 16 weeks of an FDA approved antibiotic to their regular inhaled corticosteroids. All medications used in the study will be provided free of charge. Subjects must be between the ages of 18-60. The study will last approximately 32 weeks and involves 9 visits to the Asthma Research Center and a bronchoscopy at visit 4.

Severe Asthma Study

The purpose of this study is to compare the biology and lung function of people with severe asthma to that of people with moderate asthma. The differences will be assessed through lung function testing, blood draws, and a bronchoscopy (a minor surgical procedure where very small pieces of lung tissue are removed). This research study involves 4-5 visits over a 45-day period.

Effects of Acupuncture on Asthma

This is a new study that was designed to compare the response to the use of Albuterol with acupuncture. This study will look at the effects, if any, on lung function when using these treatment methods together. The effects will be monitored through lung function testing. The study involves 12 2.5-hour visits over 12 weeks.

Bronchial Thermoplasty Study *

This study tests the safety and effectiveness of a new procedure called bronchial thermoplasty. Bronchial thermoplasty involves administering radio frequencies directly to the airways using a bronchoscope (a tube inserted in your airways). All research study-related procedures and exams would be provided at no cost to you.

  • This study is closed to enrollment.

Study of Lung Imaging Using MRI and Helium

This study is a two part study being done in collaboration with Boston University. The purpose of this study is to obtain information about how inflammation affects the airways of people with asthma. The study involves MRI imaging to monitor changes in the airways, and pressure changes in the chest. The first part of the study is 4-5 visits, the second part is 2-3 visits, and the study is about 6 weeks in duration.

Borage Seed Oil for Asthma

The Borage Seed Oil study tests whether a combination of borage seed oil and echium seed oil are safe and effective in the management of mild to moderate asthma. Both borage seed and echium are organic supplements. Subjects must be between the ages of 18-65 and have well-controlled asthma. The length of the study is 6 weeks and it includes 7 visits.

* Study recruitment/enrollment completed
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Completed Clinical Trials