Ian Lewkowich, Ph.D.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease resulting from an immune response to normally harmless allergens (i.e. dander or house dust mites). In mild asthma, the immune response is dominated by type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, which produce proteins that cause the airways to narrow and lung cells to fill with mucus, causing asthma symptoms—coughing, and shortness of breath. This research will examine how these Th2 proteins interact in controlling airway diameter and mucus secretion. The findings may yield important information that can be used to develop new asthma treatments.