The American Lung Association, known for its asthma research, is pledging $25 million to academic centers to research coronavirus, and News 12 spoke with American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer Albert Rizzo about the donation. 

 

News 12: "It's $25 million for COVID-19 funding. You called it an investment. How is that money going to be applied towards research and finding a vaccine?”

Dr. Rizzo: "Well as far as vaccines are concerned, hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide are being used on vaccines. There are probably close to 90 candidates for vaccines already across the world. So, I think our pledge towards vaccinations is a small amount, and we're going to use most of that money to make sure we are prepared for when that vaccine is available to make sure its distributed in an equitable manner and a universal manner.”

Dr. Rizzo: “The way we fund research at the American Lung Association is through a combination of investigators more mature in their years. Grants and awards to scientists and to non-profit and for-profit organizations, particularly to the ALA's network of investigators, Airwaves Clinical Research Center, 25 academic centers around the country who already investigate COPD and asthma, they will add COVID-19 to that combination at that network."

Most of the $25 million will be used to ensure that when a vaccine is available, it will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner around the world.