The University of Arizona will lead a nationwide study to test a compound that could prevent children from developing asthma.
One in 10 children in the United States suffers from asthma. It’s the most common chronic disease of childhood.
UA researchers say there are protective qualities in certain environmental bacteria. As parents have protected their children from bad bacteria, they’ve also limited their young children’s exposure to bacteria that can strengthen immune systems.
With a $27 million federal grant, UA and seven other universities will test whether a naturopathic product developed in Europe could prevent chronic asthma in some children.
Dr. Fernando Martinez, director of the UA’s BIO5 Institute, is a national expert in asthma and airway diseases.
What we are going to try to do is retrain the immune system of these insufficiently exposed children of ours to learn how to recognize friend from foe,” he said.
Dr. Martinez said previous research has shown that children who live on farms and are exposed to livestock and dusty barns are less likely to develop asthma than their urban counterparts.
The new study will include more than 1,000 babies from six to 18 months old who are considered at high risk for developing asthma.