The Asthma Research Landscape in the US
Asthma research in the United States has shifted dramatically in recent years. The focus is no longer just on rescue inhalers and daily controller medications. Researchers are mapping out distinct asthma subtypes — what scientists call endotypes — and matching them to targeted therapies that address the underlying biology rather than just calming symptoms.
A major development came when the FDA approved Breztri Aerosphere as the first single-inhaler triple therapy for asthma in patients aged 12 and older. That approval was based on the KALOS and LOGOS Phase III trials, which showed meaningful improvements over dual therapy alone. Meanwhile, biologic medications like tezepelumab continue to generate real-world evidence across multiple asthma phenotypes. The PASSAGE study, a Phase IV trial conducted across the US, enrolled patients often left out of earlier research — including Black and African American participants, adolescents, and individuals with a history of smoking — and tracked outcomes over a full year.
These advances mean that the typical asthma trial today looks quite different from what it was a decade ago. Participants may be testing a biologic injection, a new inhaler formulation, a digital health tool for symptom tracking, or a behavioral intervention designed to improve medication adherence.
Types of Asthma Clinical Trials
Clinical trials generally fall into four phases, but patients typically encounter Phase II, III, and IV studies. Each serves a different purpose.
Phase II trials focus on dosing and early safety signals. They tend to be smaller — sometimes fewer than a hundred participants — and involve more frequent monitoring visits. Phase III trials are the large, often multi-site studies that compare a new treatment against either a placebo or the current standard of care. These are the studies that frequently lead to FDA approvals. Phase IV trials take place after a treatment is already on the market, collecting long-term safety data and real-world effectiveness across broader populations.
Beyond the phase classification, asthma trials can be grouped by the type of intervention being tested. The table below breaks down the most common categories seen at US research sites.
| Trial Category | Example Intervention | Typical Duration | Best Suited For | Potential Benefits | Key Considerations |
|---|
| Biologic therapies | Tezepelumab, dupilumab, mepolizumab | 6-24 months | Moderate to severe eosinophilic or T2-high asthma | Targeted mechanism; may reduce oral steroid use | Requires injection; periodic lab monitoring |
| Inhaled therapies | New ICS/LAMA/LABA combinations | 3-12 months | Mild to moderate persistent asthma | Familiar delivery method; broad eligibility | Daily adherence required; diary tracking |
| Digital health tools | App-based symptom monitoring, smart inhalers | 3-6 months | All asthma severities | Low burden; remote participation options | Technology comfort needed; data privacy |
| Behavioral interventions | Self-management coaching, adherence programs | 3-6 months | Uncontrolled asthma with identified barriers | No medication exposure; practical skills | Time commitment for sessions; may include control group |
| Precision medicine | Biomarker-stratified treatment matching | 12-52 weeks | Specific endotypes or genetic profiles | Highly personalized approach | Narrow eligibility; may require bronchoscopy |
Finding a Trial That Fits
The most straightforward starting point is ClinicalTrials.gov, a database maintained by the National Library of Medicine. Searching for "asthma" along with your city or state narrows the results to sites actively recruiting near you. The American Lung Association also maintains a listing of trials through its Airways Clinical Research Centers network, which includes locations in Arizona, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, and Vermont.
One example currently enrolling is the TRIM study — Trial of Roflumilast in Asthma Management — which is investigating whether an existing COPD medication can help adults with poorly controlled asthma and elevated BMI. The study involves clinic visits with breathing tests, questionnaires, and blood draws across five research centers. Each listing includes contact information for a study coordinator, and reaching out by phone or email is typically the first step.
Academic medical centers and large health systems often run their own asthma research programs. Duke University, Mount Sinai in New York, National Jewish Health in Denver, and the University of Arizona are among the institutions with dedicated asthma research units. These centers frequently list open studies on their websites, and some allow you to join a registry so you are notified when a matching trial becomes available.
For those who live far from a major research hospital, decentralized or hybrid trials are becoming more common. These studies use a combination of virtual visits, at-home monitoring devices, and local lab partnerships to reduce the travel burden. The GenARA trial, for instance, let a 14-year-old participant named Olivia complete much of her involvement through an app and virtual check-ins over six months. She tracked her symptoms, answered surveys, and accessed her own data — all from home.
What Participation Looks Like Day to Day
Every trial has a protocol, which is essentially a detailed schedule of what happens and when. Before anything begins, the research team walks through an informed consent process. This is not just a form to sign — it is a conversation where the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and alternatives are explained in plain language. For minors, a parent or guardian provides consent while the child gives assent.
After enrollment, the first visit is usually the longest. It often includes a physical exam, baseline lung function testing through spirometry, blood work, and questionnaires about asthma control and quality of life. Some trials also include an electrocardiogram or allergy testing. The study team will review current medications and may ask participants to keep a daily asthma diary.
Follow-up visits vary in frequency. A short-term trial might require weekly check-ins for a few months. Longer studies often space visits out to every four to twelve weeks. Between visits, participants may be asked to use a peak flow meter, log symptoms in an app, or respond to periodic phone calls from the research coordinator.
Olivia's experience in the GenARA trial illustrates how the rhythm of participation works in practice. She and her mother, Sonya, initially learned about the study because they were interested in understanding how a commonly used medication might serve a new purpose. After a screening call with the coordinator, Olivia enrolled in a six-month protocol that included a mix of in-person visits and virtual check-ins. She used a phone app to complete survey questions and could view her own data as the seasons changed — something her mother found especially helpful during winter months, when asthma symptoms tend to worsen. Olivia also received compensation for reaching study milestones, which she used to buy shoes for a school dance.
Compensation practices vary by trial. Some studies offer a set amount per completed visit. Others provide payment when certain milestones are reached. The amount reflects the time commitment and procedures involved — a short questionnaire study may offer modest compensation, while a trial requiring overnight stays or multiple blood draws typically provides more. Travel costs and parking are often reimbursed separately. During the informed consent process, the study team should clearly explain the compensation schedule.
Weighing the Decision
Joining a clinical trial is a personal decision, and it helps to go in with clear eyes. On the benefit side, participants gain access to cutting-edge treatments and study-related medical care from specialists who monitor their asthma closely. For many, the structured follow-up alone is valuable — having regular lung function tests and symptom reviews can reveal patterns that routine clinic visits miss. There is also the broader contribution: every asthma medication on the market today exists because volunteers stepped forward to test it.
The trade-offs are real, though. Trials often require time off work or school for visits. Some involve a placebo arm, meaning a participant might not receive the active treatment for part or all of the study. Procedures like blood draws, bronchoscopy, or medication washout periods can be uncomfortable or temporarily worsen symptoms. A good research team will be upfront about all of this before asking for a commitment.
Questions worth asking during the screening call include: What is the total time commitment? Which visits must be in person versus virtual? Will I have access to the study drug after the trial ends? What happens if my asthma worsens during the study? How do I reach someone if I have questions between visits?
Resources for Getting Started
The National Institutes of Health maintains a search tool at ClinicalTrials.gov with filters for condition, location, age, and trial phase. The American Lung Association's Airways Clinical Research Centers offer a directory of active studies with direct contact information for each site. Many regional allergy and pulmonology practices also partner with trial networks and can point patients toward enrolling studies.
For those exploring biologics specifically, the Allergy and Asthma Network and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America both publish plain-language guides explaining how these treatments work and what current research is investigating. These resources can help frame the conversation with a study coordinator or your own physician.
If you have been on the same asthma regimen for years and still struggle with flare-ups, morning symptoms, or activity limitations, a clinical trial might be worth a conversation. The first step is often a five-minute phone call with a research coordinator who can tell you whether a study matches your situation. From there, you decide how far to take it.
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