# Nasal microRNA during bronchiolitis and age 6y asthma phenotypes: MARC-35 cohort

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $85,967

## Abstract

Bronchiolitis is the #1 cause of hospitalization in US infants, with ~130,000 hospitalizations
annually. Small cohort studies (n<210) suggest that 40-50% of infants hospitalized with
bronchiolitis will subsequently develop asthma. The greatest challenges for developing primary
prevention strategies for this large group of children are the very early identification of
modifiable risk factors and the heterogeneity of asthma. The 35th Multicenter Airway Research
Collaboration (MARC-35) study (U01AI-87881; Camargo, PI) is a 17-center prospective cohort
study that completed enrollment of 921 hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis in 2014. In this
diverse cohort (53% African-American or Hispanic), investigators have collected biospecimens,
including nasal swabs at the index hospitalization (median age 3 months). Follow-up data
include biannual parent interviews and medical records to age 5 years, with >90% follow-up to
date. This competitive renewal would extend this largest, most comprehensive severe
bronchiolitis cohort in the world by conducting an in-person examination at age 6 years to
diagnose and phenotype asthma and by examining nasal airway microRNA and NFκB signaling
mediators/outcomes, at both the index hospitalization and at age 6 years. In Aim 1, we will
identify nasal airway microRNAs that are prospectively associated with asthma at age 6 years.
In Aim 2, we will determine the inter-relations among airway microRNAs and inflammatory
response (e.g., NFκB signaling) and their integrated contributions to risk of incident asthma.
Pilot data provide compelling support for our hypotheses. Lastly, using a systems biology
approach, Aim 3 will define asthma endotypes by integrating clinical phenotype and molecular
data (e.g., airway microRNAs and NFκB signaling) at age 6 years. Among these infants with
severe bronchiolitis – a natural experiment – we will have a unique opportunity to identify airway
microRNAs associated with incident asthma during an important period of lung development
that would provide a critical window for primary intervention. Furthermore, using innovative
approaches, we will not only investigate underlying mechanisms linking bronchiolitis to incident
asthma (e.g., enhanced NFκB signaling) but also identify phenotypes/endotypes of asthma that
are likely to respond differently to different interventions. The study will provide a strong
evidence base for primary prevention through the future development of targeted interventions
(e.g., microRNA-targeting therapy). The investigators are NIH-funded researchers with
international expertise in the field. The study advances research on the primary prevention of
childhood asthma, and matches well with the 2013 NIAID Strategic Plan.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10267407
- **Project number:** 3R01AI127507-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** CARLOS ARTURO CAMARGO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $85,967
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-04-16 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10267407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10267407, Nasal microRNA during bronchiolitis and age 6y asthma phenotypes: MARC-35 cohort (3R01AI127507-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10267407. Licensed CC0.

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