Rutgers Researchers have found a biomarker that may lead to better treatments for asthma and other conditions. This is huge news for me as an asthma-haver. Having asthma as a child was a constant source of teasing, being uncomfortable, and financial stress so any breakthrough when it comes to the lung department is exciting for me because I don't want any other children to go through what I did as a kid.
The thing the researchers at Rutgers found is a protein in the lungs that can leak a cyclic adenosine monophosphate into the bloodstream, this molecule constricts the airways and leads to a plethora of problems. When I was younger my inhaler was a constant source of bullying and teasing, I was always hesitant to bust it out during PE because I was afraid of what everyone would say. That along with the money it cost made it rough for me, as I could see that my parents were already under a financial burden and weren't pumped about spending more.
I'm especially appreciative of the team at Rutgers and am hopefully that their breakthroughs will help thousands of people avoid lung problems in the future.