According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, an estimated 26 million Americans have asthma. So, so it’s no wonder that most of us know someone who has this chronic lung disease. Common symptoms of asthma are coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.
Asthma is the result of an inflammatory process that constricts the airways; if the inflammation can be controlled, asthma symptoms are reduced. Most asthma patients lead normal lives, perhaps using one or more daily medications to control the inflammatory process and thus control asthma symptoms.
However, some asthma patients have moderate to severe asthma; their symptoms are not well controlled, even though they are receiving standard treatment. Research aimed at finding new treatments for those with moderate to severe asthma have focused on finding better ways to control the inflammatory process. For example, our bodies naturally produce proteins called interleukins, which assist in the production of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that is the main perpetrator of inflammation. Would a treatment that could interrupt the production of interleukins limit inflammation and thus reduce asthma symptoms?
The Research Center and Dr. Roland Solensky, an allergist and immunologist at The Corvallis Clinic, are involved in clinical studies to find the answer to this question. The center is looking for patients between 12-75 years old who have moderate to severe asthma. Patients who might qualify for this study will have had at least two asthma attacks within the past year that required steroid use or a visit to the ER or an urgent care center. Research nurse Lisa would be happy to tell you more about this important study.
In addition to the moderate/severe asthma study, we’re also enrolling patients in studies for Type 2 diabetes, COPD, walking difficulties after a stroke, those with very high triglyceride levels and contraception.
If you are interested in learning more about clinical trials, contact the Clinical Research Center at 541-766-2163 or send an email to research@corvallisclinic.com. Or, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/corvallisclinicresearch.
– Julie Carrico is Associate Coordinator of The Corvallis Clinical Research Center
