American Lung Association Research in Wisconsin

(February 22, 2012)—

The American Lung Association strongly supports research to prevent and reduce the exacerbation of lung disease through an improvement in diagnosis, treatments and discovery of cures.  Our American Lung Association Nationwide Research program is comprised of three units:

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  • Awards and Grants Program – Funds researchers dedicated to supporting our mission of eliminating tobacco related diseases, reducing the burden of lung disease and improving the quality of our air. 
  • Asthma Clinical Research Centers Network (ACRC) – Nation’s largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma treatment research.
  • Epidemiology & Statistics Program – Monitors trends in lung disease and behavioral risk factors and release the findings in data-rich reports.

Since 1915, our researchers have made significant milestones in the fight against lung disease. As such, premature babies are less likely to die from respiratory distress syndrome; TB rates are at an all-time low; and young and old with chronic lung diseases are benefitting from improved treatment options such as lung transplantation, oxygen therapy and genetically-based medicines.

In January, the ACRC found that a common practice of prescribing acid controllers to children with poorly treated asthma does not improve or control asthma symptoms. These prescriptions could lead to harmful side effects such as upper respiratory infections. 

Wisconsin

Dr. Nathan Sanbo conducts research on Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) at the University of Wisconsin with the help of the American Lung Association Dalsemer Reseach Grant. IPF is a progressive fatal lung disease characterized by scarring on the lung tissue. Dr. Sanbo and his team are studying the lung scarring process with the intent of finding a new signaling molecule that will indicate what to target for new treatments.

The American Lung Association will continue to fund research to reduce the burden of lung disease, find new treatments, and one day, a cure.

For more information on the American Lung Association’s research projects, click here.