February 2015

On January 28, the ATS, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLB) and its patient partners the LAM Foundation and the COPD Foundation sponsored a successful educational briefing for congressional staff, entitled Women's Lung Health: Advances & Challenges. The event was held in cooperation with Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and House COPD Caucus co-chairs Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and John Lewis (D-GA).

The briefing featured an overview of NHLBI research on women's lung health by institute Director Gary Gibbons, MD. Kathryn Steele, a LAM patient, spoke movingly of her experience being diagnosed with LAM and living with the disease. NHLBI scientist Joel Moss, MD, PhD, outlined how research on LAM over the past decade has transformed patient lives and MeiLan K. Han, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan, discussed the burden of COPD among women.

In her welcoming remarks, Representative DeLauro, a cancer survivor, spoke passionately about the importance of NIH research. "NIH funding is not spending, it's an investment." She said. Rep. Joyce thanked the researchers on the panel for their efforts to improve the lives of patients and pledged his continued commitment to supporting NIH funding. The event was well-attended with a standing-room-only crowd.