Asthma Research Strategy

In individuals susceptible to asthma, common aeroallergens can cause airway inflammation marked by episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, mucus secretion, chest tightness, and cough. While there is a definite genetic component to asthma, triggers include house dust mites, animal secretions, molds, tobacco smoke, and other air pollutants. In recognition of its responsibility to set standards that protect susceptible populations such as asthmatics, the Asthma Research Strategy discusses future research efforts aimed at addressing the following issues:

• factors contributing to the induction and exacerbation of asthma (e.g., combustion-related products, bioaerosols, and air toxics);
• susceptibility factors contributing to asthma (e.g., genetics, health status, socioeconomic status, residence and exposure history, and lifestyle and activity patterns);
• and risk assessment and risk management of environmental pollutants relevant to asthma.

The Asthma Research Strategy highlights significant information gaps in each of these areas, prioritizes the research needs, and proposes advisory guidelines indicating how available resources can be utilized to advance scientific knowledge and control environmental factors that contribute to asthma prevalence and severity.

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