A University of Alberta research team announced Thursday it believes stem cells can heal lungs inflamed by chronic and acute asthma.

The team has been studying the reaction of mice administered stem cell ‘juices.’

'It’s heartbreaking to watch my five-year-old daughter cope with asthma'—Rhonda Schwenk

“We were thrilled to see that the healing juices opened the airways, restored healthy breathing, and reduced inflammation in the lungs,” said lead researcher Dr. Bernard Thébaud.

“The most exciting aspect of this is, we do not have to use the stem cells themselves to repair the lungs,” he said.

“The powerful liquid that stem cells produce heals the lungs.”

Thébaud hopes the research will lead to the development of a “super-inhaler” that will heal inflammation and boost healthy cells.

Canada has higher rate of asthma

It’s a dream shared by Rhonda Schwenk of Lloydminster, Alta, who developed asthma as a teenager and now watches her child struggle with.

“It’s heartbreaking to watch my five-year-old daughter cope with asthma,” she said.

“Lexi had croup and bronchitis numerous times as a baby, and when she turned two, our doctor put her on daily doses of two different asthma medications,” said Schwenk.

Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of clinical asthma in the world — about 14 per cent — but one of the lowest fatality rates from the disease, at 1.6 deaths per 100,000 asthmatics, according to the World Health Organization.

“I hope within five to 10 years, we can also reduce the number of people who die from asthma,” said Thébaud.

“Our focus is to take this research and create a new medication, not only for people with asthma but other lung diseases as well,” says Dr. Thébaud.

The scientific findings, published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, build upon years of previous research done by Thébaud’s team to find treatments for lung disease in premature babies.