Asthma UK research showcased at the American Thoracic Society Conference
27 May 2010

Asthma UK-funded researchers played a significant role at one of the world’s largest respiratory conferences, the American Thoracic Society International conference held in New Orleans from 14-19 May.

The conference brought together over 14,000 scientists, doctors and respiratory staff to share their latest research and learn about recent advances in lung conditions and treatments.

At the conference, Asthma UK-funded researcher Dr Alemayehu Amberbir, who works with Professor John Britton in Nottingham and colleagues in Ethiopia, presented recent findings about a child’s paracetamol use and exposure to common infections, such as gut worms and bacteria, and their risk of allergies.

Their study adds weight to the concern that giving a child paracetamol early in life is associated with an increased risk of wheezing. They also found that being infected with Helicobacter pylori, but not a number of other bacteria, protects children against allergies and allergic conditions.

Also at the conference, Dr Liam Heaney and his colleague Dr McNicholl presented their Asthma UK project to develop a test that can distinguish between people who are not taking their steroid inhalers as prescribed, and people who have steroid-resistant asthma.
 
They reported encouraging results showing that they can identify people who aren’t usually taking their steroid inhalers as prescribed by measuring nitric oxide levels in the air they breathe out and directly observing them as they use their inhaler.
 
This is an important step towards helping doctors support people with asthma in a more tailored and cost-effective way. Dr McNicholl was also awarded an American Thoracic Society Traveling Fellowship at the meeting, recognising the quality of his research.

In addition, Dr Lisa Parker and Dr Clare Druce, working in Professor Ian Sabroe’s lab in Sheffield, presented the latest results from innovative studies in which different types of lung cells are grown together under tightly-controlled laboratory conditions. Growing cells in this way allows the scientists to monitor the cells’ interactions and gain a clearer picture of how the lungs of people with asthma respond to virus infections and why this can trigger symptoms.

Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at Asthma UK, said: ‘These studies give just a taste of the wide range of research that Asthma UK supports.

‘Our aim is to tackle asthma from every angle, and it’s great to see Asthma UK-funded studies being presented on the international stage where they can have a truly global impact.’