Massachusetts Researcher Awarded American Lung Association and CHEST Inaugural Grant to Study Community Air Pollution Exposure and COPD
September 11, 2025
CHICAGO – The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) and the American Lung Association (ALA) have awarded the inaugural CHEST/ALA Guideline Implementation Research Grant for COPD Management to Crystal M. North, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. North is studying the role of educational interventions in eliminating air pollution exposure among individuals at risk for COPD.
The two-year, $120,000 grant was created in commemoration of the ALA’s 120th anniversary, honoring the organization’s long-standing legacy of advancing lung health through science-based public health and clinical interventions. The goal of this funding is to support innovative research that leverages global data to address the burden of COPD, a leading cause of death worldwide.
COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is a long-term lung disease that limits air in and out of the airways, causing breathing-related symptoms. While tobacco use is the leading risk factor for COPD in the United States, particulate matter—small airborne particles, including dust, tobacco smoke, diesel emissions, combustion exhaust, pollen, pet dander, and mold—can contribute to and exacerbate COPD, with lower-income communities most at risk. Dr. North is based in Massachusetts but will be using data collected from studies in Uganda, which is a region with some of the world’s highest levels of air pollution, to better understand how to prevent and reduce COPD risk.
“This study will help develop guidelines for how people can protect themselves from air pollution and lower their risk of developing COPD, with a goal of helping people all over the world,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the ALA. “This anniversary grant is a testament to our ongoing commitment to research that helps guide health care professionals and policymakers to provide optimal care to those living with COPD and other lung diseases. We are proud to partner with CHEST to support this vital work.”
“As lung specialists, we see firsthand the toll that air pollution takes on people at risk for and living with COPD,” said John Howington, MD, MPH, FCCP, President of CHEST. “We look forward to continuing this partnership with the American Lung Association and seeing the impact that Dr. North’s research will have on patient care.”
For more information on this grant, visit Lung.org, or contact grants@chestnet.org.
About the American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST) is the global leader in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 18,000+ members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about the American College of Chest Physicians and its family of journals, including the flagship journal CHEST®, visit chestnet.org.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer, to champion clean air for all, to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families, and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872), or visit Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events, or donate today at Lung.org/donate.