ASTHMA researchers in Hampshire are embarking on a sticky project which could help save thousands of lives.

A new investigation announced by Southampton- based medical research charity Hope will focus on mucus.

Experts based at the University of Southampton hope to study the differences between asthmatic and normal mucus in a bid to discover new targets for therapy.

The project by Hope, which has been working on the disease for some years, will use a new technique called MudPIT, which stands for multidimensional protein identification technology.

An international team of asthma researchers, led by Dr Sarah Puddicombe, will analyse samples of mucus from asthmatic patients.

Normally, mucus is produced to protect the airways but, for people with asthma, the mucus is more sticky and in extreme cases can block the airways, leading to choking and even death.

To overcome this problem, the differences between asthmatic and normal mucus must be discovered.

Eventually, this should lead to pinpointing new targets for therapy, speeding up the development of new asthma drugs.

Hope depends on public support for its research programmes. The donations hotline is 023 8033 3366.