Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and American Thoracic Society Awards $100,000 Pulmonary...

Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and American Thoracic Society Awards $100,000
Pulmonary Fibrosis Grant to Massachusetts General Hospital Researcher

CPF and ATS Jointly Fund Two-Year Study Investigating Key Trigger of Lung
Injury

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Coalition for
Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the world's
leading professional organization for pulmonary, critical care and sleep
physicians, today announced that they have jointly funded a $100,000, two-year
research award to Andrew M. Tager, M.D. from Massachusetts General Hospital
(MGH) in Boston.

"We are excited to continue this important partnership with ATS," said Marvin
I. Schwarz, M.D., chairman of the CPF and the James C. Campbell Professor of
Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. "Dr.
Tager's research is certainly exciting in that it represents a potential new
clinical pathway to understanding how IPF progresses in humans, which could
lead to new treatments."

"I am deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the 2008 CPF/ATS grant
in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. I am devoted to increasing our understanding
of the mechanisms of progression of IPF, and hope our work will lead to new
effective therapies for this dreadful disease," said Andrew M. Tager, MD.

The objective of Dr. Tager's study -- entitled Mechanisms of Fibrosis Driven
by Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) and its Receptor LPA1 -- is to investigate the
role of Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) and its cognate receptor LPA1 in lung
injury and fibroproliferation following bleomycin treatment. Preliminary data
has identified LPA as a potentially important mediator in IPF, functioning as
a signaling molecule that triggers the proliferation of scar tissue. The
research aims determine the role of LPA/LPA1 in fibroblast recruitment induced
by lung injury, determine the role of endothelial cell LPA1 in vascular leak
induced by lung injury, and investigate the role of LPA/LPA1 in fibroblast
migration in IPF.

"This research proposal was selected from an incredibly strong portfolio of
applications," said Thomas R. Martin, M.D., past president of ATS and chair of
the ATS Research Program. "Through our partnership with the CPF and the ATS
Scientific Review Committee we're extremely pleased to be able to provide this
funding to Dr. Tager."

Dr. Tager is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School in the Pulmonary
and Critical Care Division at MGH. His study was chosen by ATS/CPF Scientific
Advisory Committee through a rigorous peer review application process. The
award was selected from a series of applicants who submitted proposals in the
areas of basic, clinical and translational research that focused on
identifying new approaches to understand or treating idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis (IPF).

The ATS/CPF Partnership Grant for Pulmonary Fibrosis was established in 2006.
The first grant through this partnership was a $100,000, two-year award to
Sonye K. Danoff, M.D., Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Danoff is
currently in year two of her research entitled "VEGF: Marker or mediator of
lung injury in pulmonary fibrosis?" Her research is currently testing the
hypothesis that locally elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) in the lungs of patients with autoimmune pulmonary fibrosis contribute
to disease progression.

CPF and ATS intend to continue growing this important partnership by
establishing new, $100,000, two-year grants to be awarded in December, 2008 to
advance pulmonary fibrosis research efforts in the United States. Details will
be announced during the American Thoracic Society's annual meeting in May
2008.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
IPF is a lung disorder characterized by a progressive scarring -- known as
fibrosis -- and deterioration of the lungs, which slowly robs its victims of
their ability to breathe. Approximately 128,000 Americans suffer from IPF,
which is the most prevalent of a classification of lung disorders known as
interstitial lung diseases (ILD's). There is currently no known cause or cure
for IPF, nor is there an FDA-approved treatment. An estimated 48,000 new cases
are diagnosed each year. IPF is difficult to diagnose, and an estimated
two-thirds of patients die within five years of diagnosis.

About the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis
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 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 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 IPF issues; and works to improve awareness of IPF 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 15,000 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
http://www.coalitionforpf.org or call (888) 222-8541.

About the American Thoracic Society
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) is a non-profit, international,
professional and scientific society for respiratory, critical care and sleep
medicine. The ATS is committed globally to the prevention and treatment of
respiratory disease through research, education, patient care and advocacy.
The long-range goal of the ATS is to decrease morbidity and mortality from
respiratory disorders and life threatening acute illnesses in people of all
ages. In keeping with these goals, the American Thoracic Society interacts
with both national and international organizations which have similar goals.
For more information please visit http://www.thoracic.org.

SOURCE Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Teresa Geiger of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, +1-303-521-4080,
tgeiger@coalitionforpf.org