Cohen himself published some of the early work on glucocorticoid resistance.

Other research has shown that this acts as a surrogate measure of glucocorticoid resistance.

While animal work showing that chronic stress affects glucocorticoid resistance is persuasive, it is not definitive.

Cohen realised that data from two of his previous studies could be used to test this glucocorticoid resistance theory.

He knows, for example, of another group of researchers planning a study of the role of glucocorticoid resistance in asthma.