Actively Recruiting
Canadian Consortium on Airway Mucus Occlusions in Asthma, COPD and Chronic Cough
Led by McMaster University · Updated on 2026-01-07
240
Participants Needed
6
Research Sites
120 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Chronic lung diseases affect one in five Canadians, causing symptoms such as cough, breathlessness, and wheeze. Despite advancements in medical care, these conditions not only impact individuals and their close circles but also present substantial clinical and economic challenges at a national level. This grant is dedicated to addressing three prevalent lung diseases: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic cough. An alliance of clinicians, scientists, knowledge users, and patient partners from across Canada have come together to establish the Canadian Consortium for Understanding the Role of Airway Mucus Occlusions in Asthma, COPD, and Chronic Cough - "CANMuc." Mucus plays a pivotal role in the symptoms and severity of lung diseases, but its clinical assessment has been challenging. Fortunately, recent medical advances, particularly chest computed tomography (CT), facilitate visualizing and quantifying mucus in patients with lung diseases. Our goal is to initially assess mucus plugging in a diverse group of Canadians without lung disease and then compare these findings to those with asthma, COPD, and chronic cough. The investigators will recruit 100 healthy volunteers for comprehensive clinical and research evaluations, including sputum analyses, breathing tests, quality of life assessments, cough monitoring, and CT scans. In addition, testing will be conducted twice, two years apart, in 240 adult and 50 pediatric participants. This approach will enable the investigators to understand the burden of mucus and how it changes over time, explore proteins or chemicals in mucus that predict mucus persistence, and identify biomarkers that can help guide physicians to prescribe targeted treatments that might work better than others. The CANMuc team's findings will guide strategies for identifying and treating mucus plugging, inform policymakers, and share knowledge with Canadians living with asthma, COPD, and chronic cough.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Canadian Consortium on Airway Mucus Occlusions in Asthma, COPD and Chronic Cough
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Males and females 18 years old or older
- For asthma: Confirmed diagnosis of moderate-to-severe asthma by a respiratory physician with objective evidence or specialist confirmation
- For COPD: Confirmed diagnosis of moderate-to-severe COPD by a respiratory physician according to GOLD criteria with CAT score 10 or higher or mMRC score 2 or higher
- For chronic cough: Refractory or unexplained chronic cough lasting more than 1 year with normal chest X-ray and no airflow obstruction
- Healthy participants: No history of respiratory disease or lung disorders, no use of inhaled medications or corticosteroids, normal breathing test results, and mMRC Dyspnea Scale score of 1 or less
You will not qualify if you...
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Current smoker or more than 10 years pack history or smoked within the last 6 months
- Lung disease exacerbation within 4 weeks before recruitment
- Preterm birth at or before 36 weeks gestation or perinatal complications
- History of other lung disorders
- Suspected primary ciliary dyskinesia
- Current use of mucolytic medications
- Memory, cognitive, or psychiatric conditions preventing participation
- Current treatment with certain biologic therapies within specified time frames before study
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 6 locations
1
St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z 1Y6
Not Yet Recruiting
2
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 4A6
Actively Recruiting
3
Robarts Research Institute
London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B7
Not Yet Recruiting
4
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L6
Not Yet Recruiting
5
Quebec Heart and Lung Institute - Laval University
Québec, Quebec, Canada, G1V 4G5
Not Yet Recruiting
6
Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, J1H 5N4
Not Yet Recruiting
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
4
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