Why is asthma so interesting as a research issue?
It is common; it affects young and old people alike and causes substantial inconvenience to their lifestyle as well as having serious health implications. The most intriguing thing about asthma is that despite a huge increase in the number of people with this condition over the past few decades, the cause of this increase remains essentially unknown.
As a hospital based respiratory doctor we get to see and treat those at the more severe end of the spectrum of asthma, and the recurring question from those with the condition is ‘Why have I developed asthma?’. Most people have their own suspicions as to what may have caused their asthma to develop or get worse, and it is fascinating to have the opportunity to discuss these issues with concerned individuals in the morning and then in the afternoon return to the research and try and see if we can understand them better.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The diversity of working in a clinical research environment is fascinating. We are lucky to work with a local group of General Practitioners who are essential to our studies in the community and provide a very supportive environment in which to work alongside the local population of study volunteers with asthma. We have also worked with over 200 schools in the area, which certainly proved an eye-opening experience, with both schools and individuals going to remarkable lengths to assist us with our work. Being a clinician gives us amazing insights into people’s lives, which is constantly interesting.
For a bit more diversity I also moonlight as the crowd doctor at Northampton Town Football Club – where we do see the occasional acute asthma attack.
How does Asthma UK help your research?
The annual opportunity to bid for money from Asthma UK allows us to focus and develop ideas in time for the funding deadline, and then if we are funded, permits these ideas to be tested. Without this, there would be very limited opportunities to develop new areas of the study of asthma in the UK. I’m very grateful to the charity for these funding opportunities.
What do you hope to achieve as a result of your research?
It is like a big jigsaw. If done well, every part is important. The current study is investigating if a low sodium diet will improve asthma control, as small studies have suggested it may, but been inconclusive. By addressing this question we are evaluating a non-pharmacological option for asthma which, if beneficial, would be easily adopted by anyone who wants to give it a go alongside conventional treatments and medicines.
Our more general area of research is the study of the causes of asthma, thus hopefully adding to the knowledge of this area, which may then allow lifestyle modifications that help reduce/control asthma.
How we help
Asthma UK research projects for 2008
Our researchers
Dr Andrew Fogarty
Dr Andrew Fogarty is a senior lecturer in Epidemology at the University of Nottingham. He is conducting research into the dietary causes of asthma and allergy.
