"Inadequate access to health care and the best available asthma treatments is one of the reasons for higher rates of asthma and asthma-related deaths in inner-city children," said Secretary Thompson. "The new contract reflects the Department's continuing commitment to addressing this health disparity."
The primary aim of this research network, termed the Inner-City Asthma Consortium (ICAC), is to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of promising immune-based asthma treatments in inner-city children. The effectiveness of currently available asthma treatments may also be tested to make sure they are put to their best use in this population. Finally, the consortium will likely investigate possible genetic predispositions to asthma and the biological mechanisms underlying development of the disease.
The University of Wisconsin at Madison will function as the hub of this research network. Principal investigator and noted asthma researcher William Busse, M.D., and colleagues will coordinate the clinical trials, which will occur at eight sites across the country. The list of sites follows:
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Contact: Jeff Minerd
jminerd@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
28-Oct-2002