Sanofi’s Origins initiative has awarded $1.3 million to McMaster researchers and members of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Manali Mukherjee and Imran Satia for a project exploring a potential new driver of severe asthma.
Their AIR-BTK project is investigating whether a molecule called Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) plays a role in abnormal immune responses in the lungs, including the production of antibodies that may contribute to airway inflammation.
For people with severe asthma, current treatments don’t always work. This research could help explain why some patients remain uncontrolled and identify new ways to better predict and treat their disease.
The work, led by Dr. Mukherjee through the Lung Autoimmunity and Biomarkers Research Program at the Firestone Institute, could open the door to more targeted approaches for people living with complex airway disease.
More about the Firestone Institute
The Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH) is based out of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and is affiliated with McMaster University. Clinical, research and educational activities at the FIRH are closely integrated and highly collaborative, with the goal of providing optimal patient care through clinical practice, translational research and the training of health-care professionals.
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