Current Studies
PreCISE - Precision Interventions for Severe Asthma
Purpose:
PrecISE is a clinical study that uses precision medicine for severe asthma. Because existing asthma treatments don’t always work well for people with severe asthma, the goal of this study is to determine how different oral treatments can be used to help participants with specific disease pathways.
Eligible Participants:
Children ages 12 years and older and adults who have severe asthma that is not well-managed or suffer from frequent asthma attacks may be eligible for participation. Participants are not required to change their existing controller medication to receive study treatment.
Participation Overview:
Monthly clinic visits will include physical exams, blood and urine collection, and breathing tests. Participants will also track their asthma symptoms using an iOS/Android app. Participants ages 12 - 17 are eligible to receive 2 different treatments while adults can receive 2 - 5 different treatments.
Compensation:
Participant compensation covers clinic visits, parking, transportation to the clinic, and compliance-based bonuses that can total up to $200 per visit. Additionally, asthma controller and rescue medications are provided at no cost.
IDEA — Investigating Dupilumab’s Effect in Asthma by genotype
Purpose:
In this research study, we want to learn if the study drug Dupixent® (dupilumab) helps to control your asthma. We are particularly interested in understanding if people who have a certain genetic make-up (genotype) will respond better to this treatment. This medication is already approved for treating asthma in people 12 years of age and older.
Eligible Participants:
Individuals 12 years of age and older with asthma and who already take an asthma medication for symptom control (daily inhaler or injections) may be eligible to enroll in the study.
Participation Overview:
The study consists of a one-year treatment period, followed by 6 months of observation. During the 1-year treatment period, we will ask you to come in for a study visit a total of 7 times. We will show you how to self-administer the first injection and you will be asked to give yourself the medication at home every 2 weeks. Half of the participants will receive Dupixent®, the other half will be treated with placebo. We will then follow up by phone and we will ask you to come in twice for a study visit during the observation phase.
Blood will be obtained at 5 time points throughout the study. Lung function testing will be done every time you come for a study appointment. Urine, nasal, and house dust samples will also be collected.
Compensation:
Participants may receive up to $870, study medication, and asthma medication included in the study.
PARK - Preventing Asthma in High-Risk Kids
Purpose:
Our goal is to study if whether two years of treatment with anti-IgE Xolair® (omalizumab) will prevent progression to asthma and or decrease asthma severity in preschool age, allergic children with a history of wheezing. IgE is critical in allergies and asthma (including food allergies) and this agent blocks this to prevent disease.
Eligible Participants:
Children between the ages of 2 and 4 years who have experiences two to four wheezing/coughing episodes in the last 12 months and have asthma or allergies may be eligible for the study.
Participation Overview:
The participants will receive omalizumab or a placebo during a two-year treatment period. Then the participants will be observed for the following two years. During the treatment period, there will be monthly clinic visits for an injection and surveys to document symptoms and wheezing episodes. During the observation period, monthly phone calls will be conducted to document symptoms and wheezing episodes. Throughout the four years of the study, respiratory medications will be managed by the study team.
Compensation:
Participants who complete the full, four-year trial and observation period will receive up to $2,560 in gift cards. This compensation covers clinic visits, phone calls, parking, and transportation to the clinic. Additionally, asthma rescue medications will be provided at no cost to you.
SARP IV - Severe Asthma Research Program
Purpose:
The goal of SARP IV is to learn more about severe asthma by comparing people with severe asthma to those with milder forms of asthma over time. It is not a clinical trial, but rather an intensive characterization study of adults and children with asthma.
Eligible Participants:
The study is enrolling children ages 6 years and older and adults. Participants must suffer from severe asthma to be eligible.
Participation Overview:
This observational study aims to improve the understanding of severe asthma to develop better treatments. Participation in this study will involve 4 - 5 in-person visits and 3 phone calls over 3 years. There will be questionnaires, breathing tests, blood draws, and sputum collection.
Compensation:
If you complete all study visits, you will be paid up to $545. Transportation costs will also be reimbursed by the study.
CAUSE - Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings
Purpose: The Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings(CAUSE) network is currently recruiting for THREE studies at Boston Children’s, SICAS3, RACR3, CHEETAH, and PANDA. The CAUSE network focuses on asthma and allergy research.
CHEETAH: Mechanisms Underlying Asthma Symptoms and Exacerbations Across T2 status in children. We are studying if there are different mechanisms in asthma symptoms during asthma exacerbations. Children age 6 17 with asthma are eligible.
RACR3: Registry of Asthma Characterization and Recruitment 3, known as RACR3, is a registry study. Registries collect information about people for reference later. In RACR3, we specifically want to collect information about people who might be eligible to participate in research conducted by the CAUSE network.
SICAS3: School Inner City Asthma Study 3 is looking for healthy volunteers and individuals with asthma of any age living or attending school in the Northeast. This study dispenses environmental monitors to volunteers for 3 days to measure pollutants in the air. Additional Information
PANDA: In the PANDA study, we want to learn if treatment with dupilumab, given along with standard asthma care, makes children less likely to have asthma attacks. Dupilumab is given by injection just under the first layer of your skin. Dupilumab is being studied by the researchers in this study in children aged 6-17 years.
Eligible Participants: Those living in Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex, or Middlesex county in Massachusetts, or Rockingham, Strafford in New Hampshire. Those with asthma and allergies are strongly encouraged to contact, and healthy volunteers are welcome.
Participation Overview: Depends on the study! Reach out to learn more.
Compensation: Participation is reimbursed through Target and Visa gift cards for guardians and participants. Total compensation depends on the study, reach out for more information!
Aero-BPD
We are looking for children age 6-12 history of being a preemie with lung disease to understand the role of the environment in chronic lung disease
Atopic Dermatitis Research Network
We are seeking children over 2 years of age and adults with moderate to severe eczema to join our study to understand risk factors for bad eczema. We are also looking for healthy controls
