Welcome

John Sundy, MD, PhD
Department of Medicine

The ALA-ACRC develops and performs clinical research studies of asthma patients including a broad range of age groups with appropriate gender and minority representation. Duke University Medical Center is the ACRC for North Carolina. The research conducted at the Center will potentially lead to major advances in the understanding and prevention of asthma, which will contribute many times over to alleviating suffering and reducing health care costs.

The Asthma Research Initiative is the American Lung Association's nationwide effort to improve the treatment of asthma and, ultimately, to find a cure. The Asthma Research Initiative is sponsored by the national ALA with contributions from local American Lung Association (ALA) offices throughout the country, including the American Lung Association of North Carolina. The ALA-ACRC opened in July 1999 to conduct clinical research trials on large numbers of asthma patients.

The Duke Asthma Clinical Research Center is dedicated to quality research for the treatment of asthma and allergy related diseases. The ACRC is staffed by Pediatric and Internal Medicine Physicians, Nurses, and Respiratory Therapists. Clinical trials are conducted in both children and adults.
"Breathing less is not an option"
We hope to help sustain the life and breath of asthma patients, but we depend on the help of people with asthma to enroll in our studies to be part of the cure.

Current Clinical Trials

The Duke Asthma Clinical Research Center is seeking participants for asthma research studies. Studies are sponsored by the American Lung Association, often in collaboration with the NIH and pharmaceutical companies. The following studies are currently ongoing.

ALA-ACRC Asthma Patient Registry
[Active Enrollment]

The Duke Clinical Research Unit is enrolling people with asthma into the American Lung Association’s Clinical Research Center patient registry. If you have asthma and are interested in becoming involved in ALA-sponsored studies, you may participate in the registry regardless of your smoking status. Please call if you would like to play a role in furthering medical knowledge about asthma and be notified of any studies you might be qualified to participate in.

For more information, please call 919-684-1554.

Ref # e-00018719

Smoking Asthmatics Pilot Study
[Active Enrollment]

Asthma patients who also smoke are needed to take part in a research study at the Duke Clinical Research Unit. The study will examine whether questionnaires used to evaluate asthma symptoms in non-smokers can also be applied to people with asthma who smoke. Participation will require two clinic visits that are approximately six weeks apart.

Eligibility Requirements: 18 to 50 years of age, active smoker, diagnosis of asthma.

For more information, please call 919-613-6246 or email dcrurecruit@duke.edu.

Ref # e-0004159

Long-Acting Beta Agonist Step Down Study
[Active Enrollment]

Males and females, age 12 years and older are needed to participate in a research study to evaluate the optimal treatment strategy for reducing therapy in people with asthma. Eligible participants must be non-smokers, have well controlled asthma, and be taking an inhaler with a long-acting bronchodilator and corticosteroid. Study requires 11 clinic visits and one phone visit. Participants will receive asthma medications and compensation for each visit.

For more information, please call 919-613-6246.

Ref #e-00034544

Effect of Positive Airway Pressure on Reducing Airway Reactivity in Patients with Asthma
[Active Enrollment]

Asthma patients who do not smoke and have been using medication for at least one year are needed to take part in a research study at the Duke Clinical Research Unit. The study will evaluate whether a nighttime breathing therapy (continuous positive airway pressure) can help improve asthma symptoms. Participation will involve six outpatient clinic visits and 12 weeks of self-administered home therapy. Compensation will be provided.

Eligibility Requirements: 15 to 60 years of age, non-smoker, diagnosis of asthma, currently using prescription asthma medication, able to sleep at least six hours each night.

For more information, please call 919-613-6246 or email dcrurecruit@duke.edu.

Ref # e-00034572

Could SOY Improve your Asthma?
[Enrollment Closed]

If you are age 12 or older, under the care of a physician and taking daily asthma medications, you may be eligible to participate in a research study evaluating the effects of SOY supplements on asthma at the Duke Clinical Research Unit. The study involves nine visits over six months, and qualified participants will be compensated.  

For further infomation, please call 919-613-6246 or email dcru.org/volunteer.

 Resources
 

	American Lung Association
	North Carolina Chapter of the American Lung Association
	American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
	NIH Clinical Center
	ACRC Network
	Allergy & Asthma Network: Mothers of Asthmatics
	Duke University School of Medicine Research Information for the Public