Inhaled allergen challenge methodology: Assessment of SOLO Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer for Allergen-Induced Late Asthmatic Responses

The allergen inhalation challenge model is an important research technique for asthma drug development, and has been used for many years by the AllerGen CIC consortium of Canadian investigators in their evaluations of new asthma therapies. An alternate nebulizer is needed for performing inhaled allergen challenges, and this device needs to be tested for its ability to induce characteristic allergen-induced late asthmatic airway bronchoconstriction and associated inflammation. Additional novel non-invasive measures of airway inflammation for mechanistic outcomes will permit comprehensive understanding immune pathways affected by investigational medications. This study will compare the development of allergen-induced asthmatic responses (bronchoconstriction and inflammation) generated using a Solo® nebulizer to that of the Wright® nebulizer. This information is critically important because late asthmatic responses are the endpoint of most studies assessing the efficacy of investigational asthma medications, and will improve the efficiency and quality of Canadian asthma research and drug development.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gail Gauvreau

Student:

Partner:

Allergy, Genes and Environment Network

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McMaster University

Program: