Cardiff University scientists discover asthma's root cause Published duration 23 April 2015

media caption Prof Daniela Riccardi said the findings showed asthma could be stopped from developing in sufferers

Scientists at Cardiff University have identified the potential root cause of asthma for the first time, along with a new treatment.

Researchers have proved that a receptor, known as the calcium sensing receptor or CaSR, causes asthma.

This has led them to discover that the condition could be treated using existing drugs called calcilytics.

The study was made using mouse models of asthma and human airway tissue from asthmatic and non-asthmatic people.

Asthma affects about 300 million people worldwide.