{"id":681,"date":"2026-06-17T14:28:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/nhli\/?p=681"},"modified":"2026-06-17T14:29:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T13:29:23","slug":"award-winning-women-and-asthma-project-to-conclude-with-clean-air-day-exhibition-in-tower-hamlets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/nhli\/2026\/06\/17\/award-winning-women-and-asthma-project-to-conclude-with-clean-air-day-exhibition-in-tower-hamlets\/","title":{"rendered":"Award-winning Women and Asthma project to conclude with Clean Air Day exhibition in Tower Hamlets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe all know how women’s health is underrepresented and is not taken\u00a0seriously. So being able to\u00a0be advocates, have that knowledge ourselves\u00a0now, and join in conversations is empowering.\u201d<\/h2>\n

– Lived Experience participant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Women are more likely to have asthma, have more severe symptoms and are twice as likely to die of an asthma attack\u00a0than\u00a0men.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to this grave \u2013 and gravely under-reported \u2013 health inequality, a group of researchers at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI)\u00a0embarked on the\u00a0<\/span>Women and Asthma<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0project. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, this project sought to\u00a0shine a light on\u00a0the complex\u00a0lived\u00a0experiences\u00a0of women with asthma through craft and creative storytelling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By bringing public engagement\u00a0and biological research together,\u00a0<\/span>Women and Asthma\u00a0<\/span><\/i>has given women who live with\u00a0the condition a chance to share their stories;\u00a0researchers the opportunity to learn more about\u00a0how asthma affects people\u2019s daily lives; and the public a rare insight into\u00a0what living with asthma is\u00a0really like.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Women and Asthma\u00a0<\/span><\/i>team were recently\u00a0selected as\u00a0winners\u00a0of The Achievement Award as part of The President\u2019s Awards for Excellence in Societal\u00a0Engagement.\u00a0President Hugh Brady said of their work, \u201cWe recognise that the\u00a0<\/span>Women and Asthma<\/span><\/i>\u00a0project delivered bespoke engagement that addresses a\u00a0well-documented health inequity. The team demonstrated substantial, sustained commitment across\u00a0many roles, underpinned by deep and meaningful collaboration.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The project began with the Makers Exchange, a programme of creative workshops in three communities across the UK, delivered in partnership with\u00a0local\u00a0community craft organisations:\u00a0The Sewing Rooms\u00a0in\u00a0Skelmersdale,\u00a0Craftspace\u00a0in\u00a0Birmingham,\u00a0and Stitches in Time\u00a0in\u00a0Tower Hamlets.\u00a0These\u00a0workshops were then developed into\u00a0<\/span>Stories of Breath<\/span><\/i>, a multi-sensory\u00a0immersive installation created by creatives, researchers, and\u00a0women with asthma, which was\u00a0exhibited\u00a0in\u00a0e<\/span>ach of the above locations in September 2025.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stories of Breath<\/span><\/i><\/b> will be presented for the final time in London for Clean Air Day<\/a><\/span><\/b> on Thursday 18 June as part of\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/b>We Weave Air<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u202f by What\u2019s the Matter?<\/em> Festival.\u00a0It is open to all, and many of those who have participated in the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Women and Asthma <\/b><\/em>project will be in attendance.\u00a0The exhibition will be open\u00a0as a drop-in\u00a0from 10.00-16.00\u00a0at\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Tower Hamlets Town Hall<\/span><\/b><\/a>.\u00a0It is also available to\u00a0<\/span><\/b>view as a digital experience on the Women and Asthma website<\/span><\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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With the project nearing its conclusion,\u00a0the team asked the\u00a0members of the public who\u00a0saw\u00a0<\/span>Stories of Breath<\/span><\/i>\u00a0when it was first\u00a0exhibited\u00a0what they had\u00a0gained\u00a0from the experience.\u00a0Here are just a few quotes:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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“I’m so grateful that I saw this exhibit. It definitely gave me more awareness on the struggles women face with asthma. I feel very inspired b<\/span>y the stories I heard and appreciative of their vulnerability. I a<\/span>m a recent graduate who aims to research women\u2019s health, and this exhibit has made me feel more motivated to accomplish my dream<\/span>s.\u00a0This was a beautiful way to bring\u00a0these issues to people\u2019s attention.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have had asthma for 60 years and have never really discussed how it feels. The audio descriptions have put into words how I feel, especially when my asthma is at its worst.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have little to no knowledge of asthma, let alone how asthma a\ufb00ects women. I am a trainee teacher and will be more mindful of the perfumes and fragrances I wear, I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0realise fragrances may affect those living with asthma.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis exhibit opened my eyes to the immune system\u2019s link to asthma as well as the di\ufb00erences between males\u00a0and females with asthma and I will be keeping an eye out for new research.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cScience can be fascinating, beautiful and compelling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Watch the Women and Asthma film to learn more about the project:<\/strong><\/p>\n