Current diagnostic evaluation and monitoring are inadequate for proposed practice guidelines. The most commonly used test for evaluation of asthma is the measurement of airflow obstruction by spirometry. The National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP) and Expert Panel Reports set forth grading of asthma severity based on the frequency of symptoms, airflow, and the need for inhaled beta-agonists. Practice guidelines outline that the goals of therapy for asthma are to: maintain normal activity with near normal parameters of lung function, prevent exacerbations that lead to tissue injury, and avoid medication toxicity. In order to facilitate these goals, NAEPP defines key components for management including disease monitoring and stepped care pharmacotherapy. Unfortunately, there is no optimal plan for monitoring inflammation, which causes us to fail in key components in management of asthma. Limited options for anti-inflammatory treatments to control asthma likewise often lead to substantial morbidities due to treatment with high doses of corticosteroids. Our AIR program plans to develop novel asthma monitoring tests and design targeted therapeutics, which altogether may reduce toxicities and improve the long-term health of patients.