University of Alabama at Birmingham Instructor Awarded American Lung Association Grant to Study COPD

The American Lung Association is pleased to recognize Shah S. Hussain, Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, with the Catalyst Award for his work on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In total, the American Lung Association Research Institute announced a $22 million research investment in the past year, making it one of the largest programs in the country focused on lung health. The Lung Association funded 139 research grants, including the Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC), and strategic research partnerships focused on finding ways to identify, treat and cure lung disease.

“This year, the American Lung Association is celebrating 120 years of funding lifesaving research. Lung Association researchers have achieved major milestones, including helping end the devastation of tuberculosis in this country, saving millions of lives of premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), supporting research on COVID-19 and much more,” said Ashley Lyerly, senior director of advocacy, Alabama at the Lung Association. “Here in Alabama, lung research is critical. Nearly one million residents live with a chronic lung disease, and more than 110,000 people have been diagnosed with COPD in the Birmingham area alone. We are honored to welcome Dr. Hussain to the elite American Lung Association Research Institute team.”

COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is progressive and incurable. The disease is caused by long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, chemicals and other lung irritants. While the leading cause of COPD is smoking, one in four people living with COPD have never smoked. Dr. Hussain’s research aims to determine the mechanisms underlying airway loss in COPD, including a genetic risk factor that intensifies the severity of the disease. Because it is challenging to study the early stages of the disease in humans, he will leverage an innovative COPD ferret model he characterized to better understand the origin of the early disease and other key factors to inform new treatments.

"I am grateful for the support of the American Lung Association in advancing my research on mechanistic understanding of airway loss in COPD,” said Dr. Hussain. “Our research has the potential to unlock new insights into the mechanisms behind small airway loss, ultimately improving treatment strategies for COPD patients."

Awards were given different categories addressing many aspects of lung disease; American Lung Association/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, American Lung Association/ATS/CHEST Foundation Respiratory Health Equity Research Award, Catalyst Award, Emerging Respiratory Diseases (formerly, COVID-19 Respiratory Virus Research Award), Public Health & Public Policy Research Award, Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease, Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award, Innovation Award, and the Lung Cancer Discovery Award.

Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific peer review and awardees represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues related to lung health.

The Lung Association is currently accepting applications for its 2025-2026 research awards and grants cycle. For more information about the active research funding opportunities, visit Lung.org/awards. For more information about the new grant awardees and the entire American Lung Association Research Team, visit Lung.org/research-team.