Research Background

Asthma is the most common respiratory disease, and environmental factors have a major impact on its onset and exacerbation. Researchers seek concrete data on how the microbiome and atmospheric pollutants influence asthma symptoms. Consequently, long‑term observation through environmental sampling is required.

Participants and Study Design

We are enrolling non‑smoking adults aged 18–60 with moderate to severe asthma. Participants will attend visits every six months for five years, during which blood, urine, stool, dust, saliva, and sputum samples will be collected. Pulmonary function tests and respiratory capacity measurements will also be performed. This comprehensive biomarker collection enables precise assessment of the relationship between disease progression and environmental exposures.

Sub‑Study

A subset of participants will take part in a four‑hour sub‑study involving bronchoscopy, during which bronchial cells and lavage fluid are directly obtained for microscopic analysis of micro‑environmental changes. These deep‑level samples provide information that is difficult to capture in conventional epidemiologic studies.

Expected Impact

The collected data can be used to differentiate risk and protective factors for asthma exacerbations, supporting the development of personalized prevention strategies and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Moreover, the evidence base will inform public‑health policy formulation, enhancing the efficiency of patient management.

Industry Implications

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies can leverage the biomarkers identified in this study to validate new drug candidates or to inform clinical trial design. Long‑term observational data will also be employed in risk‑modeling, reducing uncertainty in investment decisions.