The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say as of 2012 more than 25 million Americans had asthma. More than 3,600 people died from it that year.

Researchers at the University of Arizona are looking to genetics as a possible new treatment. They’re studying the protein surfactant, which is one of the most abundant proteins in the lungs and is known for helping people clear out infections. Monica Kraft, chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Julie Ledford, an assistant professor and member of the Bio5 Institute, spoke about the research.