Meet the Donors

Donor Named Research

Many supporters of the American Lung Association are inspired to fund specific areas of lung disease research to honor loved ones and to help advance lifesaving research for so many other people living with lung disease.

Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about the meaningful ways in which you can make a lasting impact.

Courtney Cox Cole Research Fund

The Courtney Cox Cole Lung Cancer Research Award was established in honor of the late Courtney Cox Cole, who fought valiantly against EGFR-mutant lung cancer while inspiring countless individuals and families impacted by this disease. 

The fund reached an impressive milestone of $1 million in donations and is dedicated to supporting lung cancer research through the American Lung Association's Awards and Grants program. The American Lung Association will match the income from the endowed Fund. To learn more, visit the Courtney Cox Cole Research Fund blog post.

• Wei Tao, PhD - Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease Award

The Hastings Foundation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease is directed toward independent investigators conducting basic, clinical, or translational research in interstitial lung disease. The award is to stimulate studies that address the challenges posed by interstitial lung disease. This award is for $150,000 over a two-year period.

• Tatsuya Tsukui, PhD – University of California, San Francisco

The Beth Conner Family Lung Cancer Discovery Award

The Beth Conner Family Lung Cancer Discovery Award was established in honor of the late Beth Conner. While employed at the public relations firm, Edelman, Beth was active in launching the LUNG FORCE campaign with the American Lung Association and was inspired in telling the stories of those “heroes” especially women, impacted by lung cancer. Since her passing, her parents have funded $100,000 toward a Lung Cancer Discovery Award to support research in lung cancer in never smokers.

The Conner family hopes that their story inspires others to match their gift in whole or in part. Read more about this inspiring story on our blog and contact [email protected] to get involved.  

The Richard Star Emerging Respiratory Pathogen and Infectious Disease Award

The Richard Star Emerging Respiratory Pathogen and Infectious Disease Award was established in honor of the late Richard Star who passed away due to respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. The family’s $250,000 gift will support research aimed at gaining a better understanding of the pathobiology and the immediate and long-term implications of respiratory infections.  

Pneumonia causes more than a million hospitalizations and more than 50,000 deaths each year in the United States. Read more about the Richard Star Family gift on our blog.

Mary Fuller Russell Research Fund

For over 20 years, the Mary Fuller Russell Trust has established a Research Fund through the former American Lung Association of New Hampshire. Current named awardees are: 

• Jonathan M. Gaffin, MD – Boston Children’s Hospital
• Shiladitya Sengupta, PhD – Brigham and Women’s Hospital 
• Teresa Aydillo Gomez, PhD – Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai