A BRADFORD doctor is set to embark on a world-first study into new treatments for chronic asthma sufferers.

Dr Dinesh Saralaya, associate director at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, is lead investigator in the UK for the Arietta study, described as the first step towards "targeted therapy" against the condition.

Bradford is one of seven UK centres taking part in the one-year research programme, set to involve around 1,200 patients from 55 countries across the globe.

Dr Saralaya, also a consultant respiratory physician at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said about 40 patients would be involved in the UK research, with the first patient starting trials in Bradford tomorrow.

"Asthma is a global problem, 11 per cent of the UK population are sufferers and around 1,200 people die every year," he said.

"Bradford has a huge burden with asthma, and there are high rates of hospitalisation within the district."

Patients will be tested on four different biomarkers, three involving different elements of their blood and one measuring the amount of nitric oxide in exhaled air.

By looking at the values of biomarkers in individual asthma sufferers, researchers hope to identify how new treatments could be developed to suit patients and ultimately even cure their condition.

"This is a huge achievement for Bradford, we are leading the way in how these biomarkers could lead to specific treatments for asthma sufferers," said Dr Saralaya.

"Our patient is female, and a chronic asthmatic with a severe, uncontrolled form of the condition.

"She is desperate to know what factors make it worse.

"Through this study, she will find that out and learn how to effectively treat her asthma in the future.

"The study has huge implications for patients, and shows that Bradford is a leader in this form of target therapy."

Dr Saralaya said the treatments being tested would not hit the market until 2018 at the earliest, meaning the research would put it "three years ahead of the game."

"Existing treatments tend to reduce inflammation, but we want to ultimately switch off the inflammation completely," he said.

"By understanding the biomarkers, these patients could become free of asthma in the future.

"The aim is to find the right treatment for the right patient, which could also deliver huge savings to the NHS."