Interstitial fluid–blood cytokine concordance in severe th2-high asthma - sample collection study - ON-1168
Genre de projet: RechercheDiscipline(s) souhaitée(s): Médecine, Sciences de la vie, Microbiologie / immunologie
Entreprise: Anonymous
Durée du projet: 4 à 6 mois
Date souhaitée de début: Dès que possible
Langue exigée: Anglais
Emplacement(s): ON, Canada
Nombre de postes: 1
Niveau de scolarité désiré: MaîtriseDoctoratRecherche postdoctorale
Ouvert aux candidatures de personnes inscrites à un établissement à l’extérieur du Canada: No
Au sujet de l’entreprise:
We’re a Mississauga-based medical device startup focused on developing low-cost, easy-to-use respiratory technologies. Our team brings deep experience across regulatory affairs, intellectual property, go-to-market strategy, and project management.
Veuillez décrire le projet.:
This project investigates the feasibility and scientific validity of using interstitial fluid (ISF) as a minimally invasive matrix to monitor Type 2 (Th2-high) inflammatory activity in patients with severe asthma. The study will systematically compare a panel of pro-inflammatory cytokines measured in ISF and matched blood serum, alongside established pulmonary inflammation and lung function assessments, including portable peak expiratory flow (PEF) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Optional sputum samples will be collected to provide an airway-level comparator for inflammatory burden.
The central aim is to evaluate cross-matrix concordance between ISF and serum cytokine profiles and to assess how these biomarkers relate to functional and inflammatory lung measurements in a clinically relevant severe asthma population. By focusing on individuals with Th2-high disease, the study targets a classification of asthmatic pathology where cytokine signaling plays a central role in disease activity and therapeutic decision-making.
From a research perspective, the project seeks to generate foundational evidence supporting ISF as a reliable biological compartment for inflammatory biomarker assessment in asthma. From an innovation standpoint, the work supports the development of minimally invasive, longitudinal biomarker monitoring approaches that could complement existing clinical tools and reduce reliance on frequent venipuncture.
The study will use a prospective, observational design, employing multiplex immunoassays for cytokine quantification and standardized protocols for lung function testing and biospecimen handling. Faculty collaborators will contribute domain expertise in immunology, pulmonary medicine, translational biomarker research, and clinical study design. The results will inform future clinical studies and potential regulatory pathways for ISF-based monitoring technologies in inflammatory respiratory disease.
Expertise ou compétences exigées:
The project seeks faculty collaborators and interns with expertise in pulmonary medicine or allergy/immunology, particularly in severe asthma and Type 2 (Th2-high) inflammatory pathways. Strong knowledge of cytokine biology and immunophenotyping—including mediators such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TSLP, TNF-α, and IL-6—is essential, along with experience in translational biomarker research and cross-matrix validation using blood, interstitial fluid, sputum, or other airway-related samples. Ideal collaborators will have experience designing and conducting observational or early-phase clinical studies, including standardized biospecimen collection, processing, and storage. Familiarity with multiplex immunoassay platforms (e.g., Luminex or MSD), interpretation of pulmonary function measures such as fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and peak expiratory flow (PEF), and statistical analysis of biomarker data (e.g., correlation, agreement, and longitudinal modeling) is highly desirable. Additional assets include experience with induced sputum protocols, airway inflammation analysis, industry–academic collaboration, and regulatory-oriented translational research.
