The Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of respiratory disease. LRRI focuses on basic science and is dedicated to giving hope to patients and their families. We do not treat patients; we only work to discover ways to prevent, treat, and cure respiratory diseases.

One of our largest and most active areas of research is COPD. This disease--the fourth leading cause of death in the United States--has received little attention from the government or the research community for two reasons: patient and patient family activism is lacking, and the disease is a technically difficult scientific problem. LRRI is working actively with affected patients and their families to ensure that the federal government invests more research money into finding an effective treatment or cure for the disease. We have dedicated a major portion of our energy to developing new knowledge about the disease and trying new treatment paradigms. LRRI scientists have been working on lung regeneration and modification of degradative lung enzymes designed to identify the genes responsible for producing susceptibility to the disease in the first place. Our goal is to turn off those genes and to identify those at risk prior to the development of serious symptoms. We are also working to reduce the symptoms of the disease through gene therapy and other cutting-edge methods, which show efficacy in animals and now need to be tried in human subjects.

Passivity is killing million of Americans. Patients and their families must become more knowledgeable and proactive in the search for a cure for COPD. No other entity will solve this huge medical problem. Through its educational and outreach programs, LRRI is working to educate our government and philanthropic agencies as to the seriousness of this disease and the real hope of successful new therapies, but we cannot do this alone.

Why is there no groundswell of advocacy for research in this field and why is there so little private money raised to cure this disease? We do not have the complete answers to these questions, but we believe that a grass-roots approach to the issue will eventually prove to be the answer. We need activism from those reading this article who have a personal stake in the search for a cure. Organize, become part of a large national patient advocacy body, and pressure the government to spend much more for a cure. Give your time and money to support research dedicated to the development of new treatment methods and a cure.

COPD is a debilitating disease that saps the energy, drive, and positivity of those affected. LRRI is dedicated to hope--hope through research for a cure. A positive attitude is known to prolong life and improve the quality of life in those with a chronic disease such as COPD. Just knowing that an entire research institute is dedicated to helping find a cure can benefit patients and families.

We are 250 dedicated PhD/MD- and DVM-level scientists and professional support staff working every day to help you. Such an effort must be supported by those afflicted and their families so that a synergistic bond is formed between the research community and the patient community. This is our goal in supporting the development of this COPD patient advocacy organization. We encourage everyone concerned about this disease to join NECA and support the research efforts of LRRI and other biomedical research organizations working for a cure.