CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The ATS Foundation, Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation have awarded $100,000 to Chi Hung, MD, a Clinical Instructor at the University of Washington, Seattle, to support research in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).  
 
Patients with IPF suffer from progressive scarring of their lung tissue that leads to impaired oxygen exchange.  The average survival is approximately 3 to 5 years after diagnosis.  Affected individuals ultimately succumb to respiratory or heart failure.  There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for this devastating disease. 
 
Dr. Hung will use mouse models to identify the key cellular players that contribute to scarring in experimental models of fibrosis.  According to Dr. Hung, "Understanding the biology that causes unregulated lung scarring in IPF is essential for the discovery of new therapies that are desperately needed in the clinics."
 
The ATS Foundation, Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation co-funded Dr. Hung's award.  The mission of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) is to improve health worldwide by advancing research, clinical care, and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness and sleep disorders.  The ATS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization established in 2004 to raise funds for the ATS Foundation Research Program.  The Research Program provides awards to young investigators striving to discover cures and treatments for a range of respiratory diseases.  The Foundation initiates partnerships with other nonprofits and pharmaceutical companies to pool funds to support as many research grants as possible.  For more information about the Foundation's grant opportunities, visit thoracic.org/research.
 
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 pulmonary fibrosis (PF), 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 Pulmonary Fibrosis issues; and works to improve awareness of Pulmonary Fibrosis 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 27,000 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 www.coalitionforpf.org or call (888) 222-8541.
 
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to help find a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), advocate for the pulmonary fibrosis community, promote disease awareness, and provide a compassionate environment for patients and their families.  The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide.  PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Beside, the PFF's third biennial international scientific conference, will be held November 12-14, 2015.   For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 888.733.6741 or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the US.