Our National Research Program
We fund researchers across Canada to help create a future without asthma.
Our Research Publications
We lead and partner on studies to improve understanding and care for asthma.
Clinical Trials & Research Studies
We support our community in clinical studies to advance asthma understanding.
About Our Research
Asthma Canada is committed to advancing research toward a future without asthma by supporting efforts across the country through our Research Strategy.
Our goal is to raise $1 million in research funding by 2027 and $2 million by 2030, which will require enhanced fundraising and strong partnerships with donors, families, and industry and government supporters.
Research Priorities 2025-2030
We aim to accelerate asthma research by focusing on the following key themes:
- 1. The Impact of Social and Environmental Factors on People Living with Asthma
- 2. Understanding the Causes, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Comorbidities of Asthma
- 3. Advancing Treatments and Symptom Management for Asthma
Our Research Commitments
- Empower individuals with lived experience of asthma to activily participate in research.
- Increase research funding to strengthen our partnership with the asthma research community.
- Expand our understanding of asthma across the lifespan, addressing its complex causes, management, and the impact of environmental, social, and other health determinants.
- Ensure that knowledge translation is a mandatory component of all funded research projects.
Our Research Strategy: Striving Toward a Future Without Asthma
Our vision is a world without asthma, and our 2025-2030 research strategy drives impactful progress by investing in grants, forming partnerships, and engaging the asthma community. This work will help the 4.6 million people in Canada living with asthma better manage their condition.
While significant strides have been made in understanding asthma and developing treatments, including biologics for severe asthma, nearly half of those with asthma still experience uncontrolled asthma, often due to financial barriers and underreported burdens. We aim to expand research beyond basic science to include translational and clinical studies, improving treatment strategies and asthma management.
Shaping Our 2025-2030 Research Strategy
In 2024, we underwent a project to engage the asthma community and our stakeholders in identifying key research priorities, concerns, and questions. Through surveys and workshops, we gathered insights from over 300 participants, including patients, family members, and healthcare professionals. This input has been instrumental in shaping both our research strategy and our broader organizational strategic plan, which includes objectives in education and advocacy in addition to research.
Our Current Research Initiatives
While working toward a future without asthma, we remain focused on improving the lives of the 4.6 million people living with asthma in Canada today. Our current research initiatives include:
- Early Career Investigator Award: This award supports Canadian researchers in the early stages of their careers, enabling them to pursue innovative asthma research in areas such as basic science, clinical studies, health services, and population health.
- MSc and PhD Student Awards: We provide funding to full-time graduate students to support their research on asthma causes, treatments, and potential cures.
- Basic Science / Clinical Research Grant in Asthma Awards: These awards support innovative science projects that aim to improve the understanding of asthma and/or enhance patient care and outcomes.
In addition to providing grants, we are actively engaged in Canadian asthma research through:
- Recruiting study participants from the asthma patient community
- Contributing to published studies as staff authors
- Supporting researchers’ grant applications with letters of support
- Translating research findings into actionable insights for the asthma community
A Look Back at Our Research Legacy
Since our founding in 1974, we have been a dedicated supporter of asthma research in Canada. A key driving force behind our creation was to raise funds that would directly support asthma research within Canada.
In 2017, we launched the National Research Program, which has since invested and leveraged over $800,000 in Canadian asthma research. This funding has supported a variety of programs, including the Early Career Investigator Award and MSc and PhD Student Awards. Additionally, two legacy endowment funds have were established to further support research: the Dr. Goran Enhorning Fund and the Bastable-Potts Fund.
We are committed to continuing this important work and ensuring that our efforts lead to meaningful improvements for the millions of people living with asthma.
Our National Research Program
We fund researchers across Canada to help create a future without asthma.
Our Research Publications
We lead and partner on studies to improve understanding and care for asthma.
Clinical Trials & Research Studies
We support our community in clinical studies to advance asthma understanding.