Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and American Thoracic Society Awards $100,000 Pulmonary Fibrosis Grant to Massachusetts General Hospital Researcher
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the world’s leading professional organization for pulmonary, critical care and sleep physicians, today announced that they have jointly funded a $100,000, two-year research award to Andrew M. Tager, M.D. from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston.
“We are excited to continue this important partnership with ATS,” said Marvin I. Schwarz, M.D., chairman of the CPF and the James C. Campbell Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. “Dr. Tager’s research is certainly exciting in that it represents a potential new clinical pathway to understanding how IPF progresses in humans, which could lead to new treatments.”
“I am deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2008 CPF/ATS grant in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. I am devoted to increasing our understanding of the mechanisms of progression of IPF, and hope our work will lead to new effective therapies for this dreadful disease,” said Andrew M. Tager, MD.
The objective of Dr. Tager’s study — entitled Mechanisms of Fibrosis Driven by Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) and its Receptor LPA1 — is to investigate the role of Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) and its cognate receptor LPA1 in lung injury and fibroproliferation following bleomycin treatment. Preliminary data has identified LPA as a potentially important mediator in IPF, functioning as a signaling molecule that triggers the proliferation of scar tissue. The research aims determine the role of LPA/LPA1 in fibroblast recruitment induced by lung injury, determine the role of endothelial cell LPA1 in vascular leak induced by lung injury, and investigate the role of LPA/LPA1 in fibroblast migration in IPF.
“This research proposal was selected from an incredibly strong portfolio of applications,” said Thomas R. Martin, M.D., past president of ATS and chair of the ATS Research Program. “Through our partnership with the CPF and the ATS Scientific Review Committee we’re extremely pleased to be able to provide this funding to Dr. Tager.”
Dr. Tager is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at MGH. His study was chosen by ATS/CPF Scientific Advisory Committee through a rigorous peer review application process. The award was selected from a series of applicants who submitted proposals in the areas of basic, clinical and translational research that focused on identifying new approaches to understand or treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The ATS/CPF Partnership Grant for Pulmonary Fibrosis was established in 2006. The first grant through this partnership was a $100,000, two-year award to Sonye K. Danoff, M.D., Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Danoff is currently in year two of her research entitled “VEGF: Marker or mediator of lung injury in pulmonary fibrosis?” Her research is currently testing the hypothesis that locally elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the lungs of patients with autoimmune pulmonary fibrosis contribute to disease progression.
CPF and ATS intend to continue growing this important partnership by establishing new, $100,000, two-year grants to be awarded in December, 2008 to advance pulmonary fibrosis research efforts in the United States. Details will be announced during the American Thoracic Society’s annual meeting in May 2008.
About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
IPF is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring — known as fibrosis — and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from IPF, which is the most prevalent of a classification of lung disorders known as interstitial lung diseases (ILD’s). There is currently no known cause or cure for IPF, nor is there an FDA-approved treatment. An estimated 48,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. IPF is difficult to diagnose, and an estimated two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis.
About the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2001 to accelerate research efforts leading to a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), while educating, supporting, and advocating for the community of patients, families, and medical professionals fighting this disease. The CPF funds promising research into new approaches to treat and cure pulmonary fibrosis; provides patients and families with comprehensive education materials, resources, and hope; serves as a voice for national advocacy of IPF issues; and works to improve awareness of IPF in the medical community as well as the general public. The CPF’s nonprofit partners include many of the most respected medical centers and healthcare organizations in the U.S. With more than 15,000 members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to advocating for those with pulmonary fibrosis. For more information please visit http://www.coalitionforpf.org/ or call (888) 222-8541.
About the American Thoracic Society
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a non-profit, international, professional and scientific society for respiratory, critical care and sleep medicine. The ATS is committed globally to the prevention and treatment of respiratory disease through research, education, patient care and advocacy. The long-range goal of the ATS is to decrease morbidity and mortality from respiratory disorders and life threatening acute illnesses in people of all ages. In keeping with these goals, the American Thoracic Society interacts with both national and international organizations which have similar goals. For more information please visit http://www.thoracic.org/.
Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
CONTACT: Teresa Geiger of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis,+1-303-521-4080, tgeiger@coalitionforpf.org
Web Site: http://www.coalitionforpf.org/http://www.thoracic.org/