Over 5.4 million people in the UK receive treatment for asthma. While most manage their condition with standard inhalers, an estimated 200,000 live with severe asthma that does not respond to conventional therapy. Clinical trials are opening new frontiers — from targeted biologics to gene therapies and digital health interventions. Here is what is actively recruiting in the UK right now.
The UK is a global hub for respiratory research, with major trial centres in London, Manchester, Leicester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham. The NHS infrastructure and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) provide a robust framework for conducting multi-centre asthma trials.
Currently, there are over 150 actively recruiting asthma trials across the UK, spanning Phase 1 through Phase 4. The majority focus on severe and eosinophilic asthma, reflecting the growing understanding that asthma is not a single disease but a collection of distinct inflammatory phenotypes.
Monoclonal antibodies targeting specific inflammatory pathways — IL-5, IL-4Rα, TSLP, and IgE. Often for severe asthma patients who have failed standard step 4–5 therapy.
New formulations of inhaled corticosteroids, LABA/LAMA combinations, and novel delivery devices including smart inhalers with adherence monitoring.
Early-phase trials exploring airway epithelial repair, stem cell-derived therapies, and CRISPR-based approaches for genetic forms of asthma.
Smart inhaler sensors, AI-powered asthma management apps, remote monitoring platforms, and virtual pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.
Biologics represent the most active area of asthma research. These targeted therapies block specific molecules driving airway inflammation, offering precision treatment for patients whose asthma is not controlled by standard therapy.
Key biologic targets in current UK trials include:
Several trials are exploring biologics in earlier treatment lines, moving beyond severe asthma into moderate disease. This could fundamentally change how asthma is managed within the next 5 years.
Eosinophilic asthma — where elevated eosinophils in the blood and airways drive inflammation — is the most studied asthma phenotype in clinical trials. Biomarkers used to determine eligibility include:
If you have had eosinophil counts measured as part of your asthma management, you may be a strong candidate for these trials. Ask your respiratory team about your most recent results.
Severe asthma is defined as asthma that requires high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a second controller (and/or systemic corticosteroids) to prevent it from becoming uncontrolled, or which remains uncontrolled despite this therapy. The British Thoracic Society (BTS) severe asthma registry helps identify patients suitable for clinical trials.
UK trials for severe asthma frequently assess:
Asthma is the most common long-term condition in UK children, affecting around 1 in 11 children. Several trials are specifically recruiting paediatric patients:
Paediatric trials require parental consent and are conducted in specialist children's respiratory centres across the UK.
A growing number of UK asthma trials are evaluating digital health tools and non-pharmacological approaches:
These trials often have broader eligibility criteria than drug trials and may be suitable for people with milder asthma.
Eligibility varies by trial, but common criteria for UK asthma trials include:
Factors that may exclude you include: current smoking (some trials), recent biologic use, other significant lung conditions, or pregnancy (varies by trial).
Before searching for trials, collect your recent asthma records: lung function tests (spirometry/peak flow), blood eosinophil counts, FeNO results, current medications, and exacerbation history. Having these ready makes it easier to determine which trials you may qualify for.
Major UK centres actively running asthma trials include:
The fastest way to find asthma trials you may qualify for is to use our Smart Matcher tool. Answer a few questions about your asthma type, treatment history, and biomarkers, and we will show you the most relevant actively recruiting trials.
You can also browse our asthma condition page for a full list of recruiting studies, or explore all respiratory conditions if your diagnosis overlaps with COPD or other lung diseases.
Our Smart Matcher uses your asthma type, biomarkers, and treatment history to find the most relevant clinical trials.
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