Asthma Research Program -Now accepting new volunteers!

Join an exclusive network of asthma warriors helping to create a cleaner, greener future.  

Doctors and scientists are exploring new ways to make asthma inhalers more environmentally friendly. 

As part of this initiative, a new research program has been launched, and only 400 individuals will be selected to participate. 


Why is this asthma study important?

Asthma medicines, such as albuterol and budesonide, help relieve symptoms by reducing inflammation and relaxing the airways. Common asthma inhalers use a special gas, known as a propellant, to deliver these medicines deep into the lungs.

While the traditional propellant in inhalers is effective at delivering asthma medicines, it can be harmful to the environment. Due to this, many countries are planning to stop their use.

The goal of this new research study is to find out if a new, more eco-friendly propellant can deliver asthma medicines into the lungs just as effectively as the traditional propellant.

Eligibility Criteria

Only individuals who complete an in-person screening visit and meet all necessary qualifications are eligible to join.

Key Qualifications

  • 18+ years old

  • Diagnosed with asthma

  • Asthma symptoms are easily relieved with rescue inhaler

There will be other study requirements, the study team will go over all the details with you and answer any questions you may have if you decide to participate.

Get started.

How do I sign-up?  

  • Step 1. Complete online Pre-Screening questionnaire.  

  • Step 2.  Choose the most convenient for you study site location and share your contact information 

  • Step 3. Expect phone call from study site about next steps 

  • Step 4. Receive study information packet with more information 

  • Step 5. Visit study site and meet with the research doctor  

  • Step 6. Decide if the study is right for you (sign consent form) 

  • Step 7. Start study-related health screening  

Taking part in a clinical study is always your choice.  As a participant, you can change your mind and decide to quit at any time. 

Get started.

What’s does the study involve? 

  • Participation is expected to last 3.5 months and is divided into three parts: screening, study treatment, and follow-up. 

  •  Participants will visit the site 5 times to undergo study-related tests and assessments.   

  •  Study-related health assessments include breathing tests, blood tests, and physical exams.  

  •  Study inhalers and rescue medication will be provided at no cost  

  •  Participants will be paid for their time and effort.  

  •  Travel support to and from the study site is available to help participants with transportation costs or arrangements.  

Before you begin the study treatment, there is a two-week period during which you'll complete a series of tests and procedures in what is called the run-in period. This helps us ensure that the study is a good fit for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Clinical research is the process of developing medicines or therapies to possibly prevent, treat, or help with diseases. Before a medicine can become available, it must be tested in a series of clinical studies to understand if it is safe and effective. With the help of clinical study participants, researchers can find out if and how potential new medicines work.

  • Participants will be in the study for approximately 3.5 months, including a screening period that lasts around 2 weeks, a treatment period that lasts about 12 weeks, and a follow-up period that lasts about 5 days.

  • You may need to make some small changes to your diet and lifestyle while you are taking part in the study. This is to make sure that the study team can accurately measure your health and well-being, and how well the study treatments are working for you.  

    Adjustments for the whole study
    Continue to avoid: 

    • Smoking, including all forms of tobacco, marijuana, and  e-cigarettes (or vaping) 

    Adjustments around clinic visits
    Avoid: 

    • Eating or drinking coffee, tea, cola drinks and chocolate 6 hours before, and for the whole time you are at your study clinic visit 

    • Drinking alcohol 24 hours before spirometry tests 

    • Use of rescue SABA for at least 6 hours before spirometry tests 

    Your study team will advise you when to expect clinic visits and spirometry tests so you can plan to make any adjustments. 

  • If you are taking the placebo, or the HFO propellant isn’t as effective at delivering BDA into your lungs as the HFA propellant, there is a chance your asthma symptoms could get worse. If you do notice any changes, you can use the rescue SABA inhaler you are provided with, which will be albuterol or salbutamol.  

    Please be reassured that your study doctor will monitor you closely while you are taking treatment to identify any changes in your health and well-being quickly. 

  • Yes.  Taking part in a clinical study is always your choice. You can change your mind or stop taking part at any time, for any reason. Stopping the study will not affect the quality of care that you receive. If you would like to stop, please let your study doctor know as soon as you can. They will be able to discuss your options and next steps with you.

  • If you are eligible and decide to participate, you will be placed by chance into one of three groups: 

    • Group A1 

    • Group A2 

    • Group B 

    Here's how the inhaler assignments work: 

    Each group will receive a different type of inhaler. 

    • Test Inhaler: This is the BDA Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) with Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). 

    • Reference Inhaler: This is the BDA Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI) with Hydrofluoroalkane (HFA). 

    • Group B also has a placebo inhaler, which looks like the other inhalers and is used in the same way, but contains no active medication. Placebos help us determine if the real medicines are effective. 

    If you join this study, there is roughly a 30% chance that in one of the three rounds of treatment, you will receive a placebo, specifically in Group B. 

    Groups A1 and A2: Participants in these groups will be randomly assigned to one of three different sequences of receiving the test and reference inhalers, ensuring each participant tries both but in varying orders. 

    Group B: Participants will be randomly assigned to one of six different sequences. These will include the test, reference, and placebo inhalers, all given in a varying order. 

    Additionally, the study is double-blind, meaning neither you nor the study team will know which treatments you are receiving or in what order. This process ensures that the study remains fair and unbiased.