A New National Respiratory Network Launches
Partnership invests $7.6 million to promote cutting-edge research and foster collaboration between Canada’s top experts in asthma and COPD
Ottawa —The Canadian Lung Association announces the launch of a new national respiratory network that will promote world-class research into chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The Canadian Respiratory Research Network will receive a total investment of$7.6 million through a partnership between The Canadian Lung Association, the British Columbia Lung Association, industry sponsors and theCanadian Institutes of Health Research.
“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 Canadian Lung Association.
“Chronic lung diseases take an enormous toll on Canadians and require significant health-care resources,” says Dr. Shawn Aaron, director of the Canadian Research Network and a senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
The Canadian Lung Association will 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.
The network will also provide significant investment into a comprehensive training program that will promote interdisciplinary research and offer support to new researchers.
“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.”
Funding for this network is being provided through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) in partnership with the Canadian Lung Association, British Columbia Lung Association, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., AstraZeneca, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.and BoehringerIngelheim (Canada) Ltd.
Quick Facts:
- In Canada, about 2.4 million Canadians over age 12 (8%) have been diagnosed by a doctor with asthma .
- COPD is now the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, and mortality rates have been climbing in the last three decades, especially for women.
- In Canada, more than 750,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with COPD by a doctor and it’s estimated another 750,000 Canadians have COPD but are currently undiagnosed.
- Chronic lung diseases, primarily asthma, lung cancer and COPD, cost the Canadian economy $12 billion, including $3.4 billion in direct health care costs and $8.6 billion in indirect costs.
For more information, visit: www.respiratoryresearchnetwork.ca
About the Canadian Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada's oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues. For more information, visit www.lung.ca or call us toll-free at 1-888-566-5864. Join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @canlung.
Contact:
For further information, national media representatives may contact:
Janis Hass
Director of Marketing and Communications
The Canadian Lung Association
(613) 569-6411, ext. 252
jhass@lung.ca
