The Canadian Lung Association (CLA), Ottawa, ON, has launched the Canadian Respiratory Research Network—a national respiratory collaboration designed to promote world-class research into chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The network will also provide significant investment into a comprehensive training program that will promote interdisciplinary research and offer support to new researchers.
“Having a network that brings diverse experts together means that we have a better chance of translating innovative research into optimal care for those who are actually affected by asthma and COPD, the two most common chronic lung diseases in Canada,” says Debra Lynkowski, president and CEO of the CLA.
According to the CLA, the Canadian Respiratory Research Network will receive a total investment of $7.6 million through a partnership between the CLA, the British Columbia Lung Association, industry sponsors, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The CLA will then invest $1.08 million towards the new Canadian Respiratory Research Network over the next five years. The British Columbia Lung Association will contribute another $200,000 over the same period.
“Ultimately these efforts will significantly improve prevention, management and care of chronic lung disease and will foster public health and health services innovations to improve respiratory health for Canadians,” says Dean Karakasis, Chair of the CLA Board of Directors. “It will also help reduce the economic burden of lung disease.”
