Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

REverse LuNg Airway and Vascular RemOdeling in Asthma ReMission (ReNORM)

This research, called ReNORM, wants to understand how special asthma medicines called biologics affect the lungs of adults with severe asthma. Many people with severe asthma struggle with daily life even after trying other treatments. Biologics can be very effective, but it's not clear if they can actually heal or reverse lung changes that have happened over time. The study will look at how the airways and blood vessels in the lungs respond to this treatment. Researchers are especially interested to see if a person's age or how long they've had asthma affects these changes. They will use scans and lung function tests to compare people with severe asthma on biologics to healthy volunteers, hoping to find out if these powerful treatments can lead to a real recovery for adults.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Western University, Canada

Enrolment target

200

Start

01 Oct 2025

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2030

Asthma; Eosinophilic

What is this study about?

If you live with severe asthma, you know how challenging it can be. For some people, regular inhalers and other treatments don't fully control their symptoms, leading to missed work or school, and making everyday activities difficult. Luckily, there are newer, more powerful medicines called 'biologics' that can help by targeting the specific ways asthma causes inflammation in the body. These treatments have shown great promise in improving symptoms and reducing asthma attacks.

This study, called ReNORM, aims to understand something very important: can these biologic treatments actually help repair the lungs? We know that for children, lungs can often recover and remodel. But for adults who have lived with asthma for many years, it's not clear if these treatments can reverse the changes that have happened in the airways and blood vessels. This research will help us understand if people can truly achieve 'asthma remission,' meaning their asthma is very well controlled, and if this involves their lungs actually getting healthier.

To do this, researchers will invite people with severe asthma (aged 18 to 80) who are starting biologic therapy, as well as healthy volunteers, to take part. They will use special scans of the lungs and breathing tests to see how the lungs change over two years. By studying different age groups, they hope to learn if older lungs, which might have more long-term changes, respond differently to these treatments. This information is key to helping doctors decide who might benefit most from biologics and what a full recovery from asthma might look like for different people.

Key takeaways

Looks at how specific asthma medicines (biologics) affect adult lungs.
Aims to see if lung damage from severe asthma can be reversed.
Uses advanced scans (CT, MRI) and breathing tests to track changes.
Compares people starting biologics with healthy volunteers.
Wants to understand if age or asthma duration affects treatment success.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult between 18 and 80 years old. You could have severe asthma and be starting a new biologic treatment (like omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, or tezepelumab) because your asthma hasn't been well controlled by other medicines. Or, you could be a healthy volunteer of a similar age and gender who doesn't have a long-term lung condition and hasn't smoked much over your lifetime.

There are also some important rules about birth control if you're a woman who could become pregnant, or a man who is sexually active. This is because some scans or treatments might not be safe during pregnancy. You'll need to agree to use effective birth control throughout the study and for a period afterwards. Everyone taking part must also understand what the study involves and be happy to sign a consent form.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 to 80 years old?
Do you have severe asthma and are you starting a new biologic treatment?
Or are you a healthy adult similar in age and gender, with no serious lung conditions and very little smoking history?
Are you able to use effective birth control if you could get pregnant, or if you are a sexually active man?
Are you willing and able to attend study visits for scans and tests over two years?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you would be involved in the study for about two years. You'll have several visits where you'll undergo detailed lung tests, including CT scans and MRI scans of your chest. You'll also have standard breathing tests to check your lung function. Some participants might also have a bronchoscopy, which is a procedure where a doctor looks into your airways with a small camera and takes tiny samples; this will be guided by MRI during the study. These tests will be done before you start treatment and again after one and two years of treatment to see how your lungs have changed. Healthy volunteers will have similar tests to help researchers compare findings. You'll be given detailed information about each visit and what to expect.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several benefits. You would receive regular monitoring of your asthma and overall health. The information gathered might help improve understanding of how to best treat severe asthma for future patients. However, there are also potential risks, such as those associated with medical procedures like CT scans (minor radiation exposure) and MRI scans (being in an enclosed space) or bronchoscopy (a common, but invasive procedure). You will receive a full explanation of these risks before you agree to participate. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Robarts Research Institute; The University of Western Ontario
Verified postcode
London, Canada

Common questions

What are 'biologic therapies' for asthma?

These are newer, specialised medicines that target specific parts of your immune system to reduce the inflammation that causes asthma symptoms. They are often given as injections.

What does 'asthma remission' mean?

Asthma remission means your asthma is very well controlled, with few or no symptoms and no asthma attacks, and you might need less medication. This study wants to see if this control also means your lungs are healthier.

Will I have to stop my current asthma medicine?

Participants with severe asthma will be those who are newly starting a biologic therapy. Your doctor will discuss your current medications with you as part of your usual care.

What is a CT scan or MRI scan of the lungs?

These are special types of images that give very detailed pictures of your lungs, showing the airways and blood vessels. They are painless, but you'll need to lie still for a while.

Do I get paid to be in the study?

The study information doesn't mention payment, but some studies offer reimbursement for travel or time. This would be explained in full detail if you are invited to participate.

How to find out more

Grace Parraga, PhD

gparraga@robarts.ca 519-931-5777 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.