American Lung Association Announces New Research Awards

NASHVILLE, TN (10/26/2015)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association's Research Awards Nationwide 2015-2016 report highlights the novel and innovative research projects supported by the organization with the goal of discovering effective prevention and treatment strategies as well as cures for lung diseases like asthma, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and more.

Through its Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) and Awards and Grants Program, the American Lung Association funds high quality research, and will be funding more than $6.49 million in 2015-2016. The Program supports laboratory and patient-centered research and is an essential cornerstone of the Lung Association's mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

"Breathing is essential to life, and we see the devastating effects that lung diseases like asthma, lung cancer and COPD can have on families and loved ones in Tennessee" said Tish Towns, FACHE, a member of the American Lung Association National and the Midland States Charter Boards of Directors.

"The American Lung Association in Tennessee recognizes that scientific research is key to eliminating these lung diseases, and is extremely proud to recognize and support scientists and advocates working on new discoveries to eradicate lung disease and offer desperately needed support to those in our community suffering from lung disease", she said. Tish Towns is Senior Vice President for External Relations with Regional One Health in Memphis, Tennessee.

Over the next 12 months, the American Lung Association Tennessee is supporting the following lung disease research projects:

Amali Samarasinghe, PhD of the The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is studying to find out why asthma patients were less likely to die of the influenza virus during the 2009 pandemic. Her project, "Molecules Found in Allergic Airways May Protect Against Influenza" will examine the function of small proteins called resistin-like molecules, which are common in asthma airways in influenza immunity.

Bradley Winston Richmond, MD of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN will look at why some smokers are more likely to develop COPD. His project, "Infections Could Play Role in Smokers' Development of COPD" suggests that patients more likely to develop COPD might lack a protein whose main role is prevent bacteria from penetrating the lung.

Medical advances made possible by the research contributions of the American Lung Association in Tennessee have advanced treatment options and improved quality of life and patient care for a variety of lung diseases.

Research Awards Nationwide 2015-2016 is available and searchable on the American Lung Association's newly redesigned Lung.org.