Contact: Andy Weisser, (818) 703-6444
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or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA
www.californialung.org

American Lung Association Research Program Links Lung Disease Mechanisms to Possible Cures

(September 20, 2000, Oakland, CA) -- The American Lung Association of California has awarded $522,000, for fiscal year 2000-2001, to researchers in California who are working to increase knowledge about lung disease, America's number three killer, which is responsible for one in seven deaths. In laboratories across the state, these researchers are discovering new details about how the lungs work, which could result in new ways to treat and prevent lung disease, and could someday lead to a cure.

"This type of research is vital because it forms the basic knowledge for which eventual therapies will be developed," said Steve Dubinett, MD, chair of the American Lung Association of California's Research Grant Committee. "It enables researchers to fund their projects early on in their careers, and it leverages additional funding they wouldn't have been able to get otherwise."

Research Training Fellowship Awards of up to $32,500 provide the "seed" money to help new researchers get their projects off the ground so they can secure additional funding. Young Investigator Awards of up to $35,000 per year are awarded to those who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in investigative or academic research. Pulmonary Nurse Fellowship Awards of up to $6,000 are granted to master's level nursing students who are pursuing careers in pulmonary care.

"The public needs to understand that research is a very long-term commitment to understanding the basic mechanisms of disease," said Dr. Dubinett, who has been studying the immune cell response in lung cancer for more than 15 years.

Early in his career, he was awarded an American Lung Association research grant. "These research grants get young investigators started on a career in lung disease research," he said. "Each individual study forms just one aspect of a larger picture, and each individual investigator can fill in a different piece, which helps us get closer to new treatments."

This year's research projects include the following Research Training Fellowship Awards:

Omid Akbari, Ph.D., at Stanford University, is exploring the role of T cells in regulating the immune response, which is often associated with asthma.

Craig A. Cummings, Ph.D., at Stanford University, is examining which genes react to the bacterial pathogen that causes whooping cough to better understand how the body's defense mechanisms work.

Jun Deng, MD, Ph.D., at Stanford University, is studying the factors that cause inappropriate immune responses resulting in inflammation in the airways when asthma occurs.

Shazia Jamil, MD, at the University of California, San Diego, is examining how inflammatory fats produced by lung cancer cells affect tumor growth.

Martina Kruetzer, MD, at the University of California, Davis, is investigating how specific genes control the growth of lung cancer cells. This award is co-funded with the American Lung Association of Santa Clara/San Benito Counties.

Debra Piddington, Ph.D., at the University of California, San Diego, is studying the role of a specific gene in the development of tuberculosis.

Wei Shi, MD, Ph.D., at the University of Southern California, is examining how abnormal blood vessel development affects respiratory health.

Mojdeh Tolebian, MD, at the University of California, Davis, is investigating the role of a vitamin A-suppressed gene in the lung disease process.

This year's Young Investigator Awards include:

Chantal Jenny Darquenne, Ph.D., at the University of California, San Diego, is studying how inhaled airborne pollutants result in an increase in risk for pulmonary disease or death.

Yuan-pu Peter Di, Ph.D., at the University of California, Davis, is exploring how specific cells protect the airways from injury and disease.

Kenneth Fang, MD, at the University of California, San Francisco, is examining the role of specific cells in lung tissue scarring.

Pierre P. Massion, MD, at the University of California, San Francisco, is investigating molecular changes in pre-cancerous lesions to find indicators for the early detection of lung cancer.

Savita P. Rao, MD, Ph.D., at the University of California, San Diego, is investigating how certain cells react when the Mycobacterium avium organism infects the lungs.

James H. Roum, MD, Ph.D., at the University of California, Irvine, is exploring the therapeutic effects of a derivative of nitric oxide in relaxing blood vessels and airways.

Kenneth J. Serio, MD, at the University of California, San Diego, is studying how an enzyme affects lung inflammation to see whether it can be controlled through a specific gene.

Martina Stolina, Ph.D., at the University of California, Los Angeles, is examining the role of proteins in activating the immune response when lung cancer tumors are present.

Rayeev Venkayya, MD, at the University of California, San Francisco, is determining how a specific cell acts on the airways to cause mucous production.

John Paul Wolters, MD, at the University of California, San Francisco, is investigating how certain enzymes secreted by mast cells affect inflammation in the airways.

Pulmonary Nurse Fellowships were awarded to Jeanine A. Ishak, RN, at the University of California, Los Angeles, and to Sharon Legenza, RN, at the University of California, San Francisco.

The American Lung Association has been fighting lung disease for more than 90 years. With the generous support of the public and the help of our volunteers, we have seen many advances against lung disease. However, our work is not finished. As we look forward to our second century, we will continue to strive to make breathing easier for everyone. Along with our medical section, the California Thoracic Society, we provide educational programs, community service, advocacy and research. The American Lung Association's activities are supported by Christmas Seals and other voluntary contributions. For more information, visit us at our web site at www.californialung.org or call (800) LUNG-USA to be automatically connected to your local American Lung Association.

More information on 2000-2001 funded applicants.