By JANELLE HOM

Infectious disease…that’s how it all started for the American Lung Association. In 1904, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States. It was estimated that, at the turn of the century, 450 Americans died of tuberculosis every day, most between ages 15 and 44. At that time, there were 115 sanatoriums built to house 8,000 TB patients. The National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis (now the American Lung Association), was able to expand that capacity for 136,000 patients by 1953.

It was through our efforts in tackling tuberculosis that the model of providing education, advocating for public health, and funding lifesaving research was born.

Now, 116 years later, a new threat has emerged in COVID-19. As the nation’s leading voluntary lung health organization, the American Lung Association is launching a $25M initiative to end COVID-19 and defend against future respiratory virus pandemics. The COVID-19 Action Initiative will be used to expand the Association’s ongoing respiratory research program, enhance key public health measures, and establish an advanced network to stop future respiratory virus pandemics. The initiative will also work with public and private entities to increase research collaboration and develop new vaccines, detection tests and treatment therapies.

COVID-19, like most in the coronavirus family, is a respiratory disease, so the American Lung Association is uniquely positioned to have substantial and rapid impact. The Association will fund respiratory virus research through the following channels with its COVID-19 Action Initiative:

· Expand COVID-19 research within the current clinical trials of the Airways Clinical Research Center (ACRC) Network

· Fund Coronavirus Awards and Grants for preventive research, vaccines, antivirals and to advance future outbreak preparedness

· Provide ACRC pilot grants to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on patients with chronic lung

In addition to raising funds to increase a research commitment, the Lung Association will allocate funds to education and advocacy to support public health against the current and future threats of COVID-19 and respiratory viruses.

In the essence of this feeling of history repeating itself, our own local healthcare providers are keenly aware of the importance of our research. From respiratory therapists, radiologist, pulmonologists, and lung disease survivors, there is not an aspect of our healthcare system or society that COVID-19 is not impacting.

Dr. Rick Ramnath, board member for the American Lung Association and Diagnostic Radiologist with Neuroskelital Imaging, shared, “I have the unique privilege of observing on a daily basis the direct impact of various diseases on the tissues of the lungs. And with every CT scan and X-ray that I interpret, I am reminded of the broad and powerful influence that the American Lung Association and its initiatives can have on the health of our lungs. Just as it did with the tuberculosis epidemic of the early 1900's and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the American Lung Association has always played a critical role in protecting our lung health. Now, in the face the greatest pandemic since 1918, we look to the American Lung Association's Covid-19 Action Initiative to guide us through these challenging times. As a healthcare provider, I feel encouraged and comforted to know that the Lung Association is harnessing the power of its vast educational and research resources to defeat this disease.”

Respiratory therapists have served as warriors in this recent outbreak, sacrificing and dedicating themselves care for their patients and their communities. Ed Fluker, a respiratory therapist with AdventHealth and 24-year volunteer with the American Lung Association, shared that, “Combating the spread of the virus will require essential research necessary to develop treatments and vaccines. I am grateful to the American Lung Association for committing $25 million to COVID-19 research! Working together we will be able to flatten the curve of the pandemic.”

Anyone who breathes is at risk of contracting this disease. And for the more than 36 million people in the U.S. suffering from lung disease, they are at an even higher risk for experiencing complications from this disease. Local volunteer Kathleen Skambis stated, “I have survived 21 years after having pieces of both of my lungs removed because of

lung cancer. Now COVID-19 wants to kill me. I’m only 62 years old and have a lot left to do. The Lung Association’s COVID-19 Initiative recognizes the importance, especially to those whose lungs have been impacted by disease, of quickly finding effective treatments and vaccines.”

The mission of the Lung Association is more relevant today, maybe even more than ever before.

We’re seeding this commitment to meet the most urgent needs but actively working to raise additional funds for the longer term by reaching out to longtime and new corporate partners, public health entities and individuals to help us build these funds for the future need. We want to make an immediate impact when the need is greatest but will give ourselves a span of three years to raise and deploy funds that address current needs and research, as well as future needs with emerging respiratory viruses and preparedness.

With the help of our staff and volunteers, and with the support and donations of generous Americans, we can stand together and face the challenges to lung health of today and tomorrow. If anyone struggles to breathe freely, the American Lung Association will be there to champion for them. We will continue to advance our mission through expertise and taking bold actions to realize our vision of a world free of lung disease.

More information on the association’s COVID-19 Action Initiative can be found at Lung.org.

Janelle Hom is the Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Florida. Email her at Janelle.Hom@lung.org.  Visit Lung.org