TOP NEWS
Lung Association Joins Global Health Organizations in Signing Historic Healthy Indoor Air Pledge at UN
American Lung Association President & CEO Harold Wimmer recently joined more than 150 leaders from global health organizations, universities and advocacy organizations in signing the history-making Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air at the United Nations in New York City. The pledge recognizes clean indoor air as a fundamental human right. With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, poor air quality is the second leading risk factor for death, contributing to respiratory disease (including asthma and lung cancer), heart diseases, infectious transmission, and cognitive issues. Unlike outdoor air, indoor air quality remains largely unregulated.
National Groups Amplify Patient Voices to Stress Importance of Oxygen Reform
In honor of World Oxygen Day earlier this month, the Lung Association joined leading patient provider and professional organizations in amplifying the voices of the approximately 1.5 million people on supplemental oxygen, and to stress the critical importance of oxygen reform and legislative action. They included advocate Colleen Connor who lives with pulmonary arterial hypertension and is housebound much of the time after losing access to portable liquid oxygen “Today, I rely on a rely on a heavy E-tank that weighs 16 pounds and requires a cart,” says Colleen. The Lung Association is urging Congress to pass the Supplemental Oxygen Access Reform, or SOAR Act (S. 1406/H.R. 2902), pivotal bipartisan legislation that seeks to ensure that individuals enrolled in Medicare, who rely on supplemental oxygen to breathe, can access the proper type and level of oxygen they need to live full, healthy lives. Read more about supplemental oxygen reform.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Run, Bike or Walk to Support Lung Health
You can support the American Lung Association at one of our signature events held at iconic locations throughout the United States. Find an event near you:
RESEARCH
Metformin Shows Hope in Slowing COPD
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to celebrate Baylor College of Medicine’s Joselyn Rojas-Quintero, MD, whose groundbreaking work in metformin is shaping the future of lung health research. Her findings suggest it may also help repair lung cells, reduce harmful inflammation and slow the progression of COPD. According to Dr. Rojas-Quintero, “I don’t think it is going to be a drug for every person, but our hope and my goal is to find if we can use this in early stages of COPD so that we can slow or reverse the damage before the disease progresses to the point where they need a lung transplant.” To read more about her study, funded by the American Lung Association Research Institute, check out this blog article.
YOUR HEALTH
Answers to Common Biomarker Testing Questions
Though lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, advancements in treatment have led to increased survival rates. Thanks to biomarker testing, or precision oncology, doctors can now treat each patient’s lung cancer individually. “We are not just treating lung cancer, we are treating your cancer,” said Eric Singhi, MD, a thoracic medical oncologist in Houston, Texas and a Lung Association medical expert. In our new blog, “Q&A: Answering Burning Questions about Biomarker Testing," Dr. Singhi explains biomarker testing and targeted therapy, outlines questions to ask your healthcare provider, and clears up common misconceptions about the procedure.
FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS
Upcoming Webinar – Addressing Radon in Schools
Join the American Lung Association for a webinar Breathe Easy: Prevent Radon-Induced Lung Cancer in Your School Buildings on Thursday, November 6th at 11am ET/10am CT and learn about the importance of addressing radon in schools. Joined by Energy Association of Iowa Schools (EAIS), we’ll discuss general procedures and options for conducting radon testing in school buildings and help school administration feel confident taking the steps to reduce radon exposure for staff and students.
The target audience for this webinar is school administrators, school nurses, teachers, facilities and building managers, and nationwide or local partners interested in learning more about radon.
IAQ Resource Hub for Healthcare Professionals
During National Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month, the Lung Association urges healthcare professionals to play a vital role in protecting their patients from the health impacts of indoor air pollution (IAP). The American Lung Association has developed tools to help healthcare professionals identify, screen and treat patients for IAP exposure:
- IAQ Resource Hub – toolkits with resources to address common indoor air pollutants.
- Indoor Air Quality Action Plan – plan to help patients take action towards improving the air in their home.
- Invisible Risks: The Health Impacts of Indoor Air Quality – FREE online learning module (CMEs available!)
ADVOCACY
CDC Funding Restored for State Tobacco Control Programs
States have now received their long-delayed notice of awards (NOA) from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health—at level funding—to support state tobacco prevention, control and cessation programs, including local quitlines. This outcome was the direct result of the Lung Association’s tireless and persistent advocacy—from our state staff engaging with local leaders and Congressional offices, to our advocates on the ground raising their voices, to the federal team pushing for answers and information—as part of our unwavering commitment and support of these vital programs.
COVID-19 Vaccination Vote Creates New Barrier; Lung Association Reiterates Strong Support for Widespread Vaccination
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently issued new guidance for COVID-19, but with a barrier for widespread vaccination. “They changed from recommending widespread vaccination to recommending and adding shared clinical decision-making (a discussion between a patient or caregiver and their healthcare provider) to the adult and childhood vaccination schedules,” said Harold Wimmer in a statement. “This change adds a burden and causes confusion, and no science was presented to support this action. The American Lung Association strongly supports widespread vaccination, which is crucial for public health, and this is especially true for respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.”
Nicotine Pouches Need Thorough and Scientific Review, Not a Fast Track
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a new program to accelerate premarket tobacco applications for nicotine pouch products. In a statement, Harold Wimmer said: “Nicotine pouches are so new that the short- and long-term health impacts are not known yet. This lack of independent, long-term research underscores the need for FDA to maintain the most rigorous scientific review process – not to create shortcuts that could put public health at risk.” Read more about nicotine pouches.
EACH BREATH BLOG
Clinical Trials Give Lysa a New Lease on Life
Lysa was working as an X-ray technician when she began experiencing severe back pain. After months of worsening symptoms, a trip to the ER revealed stage IV lung cancer that had spread to her bones. She underwent emergency spinal surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. A lung biopsy confirmed she had ROS1-positive cancer, making her eligible for targeted therapy that kept the disease at bay for 10 years. When the cancer progressed, she joined a clinical trial for a new targeted treatment, which she continues with minimal side effects. “Clinical trials are like getting tomorrow’s medication today,” Lysa shared in the new blog, “How to Get Tomorrow’s Medicine Today,” praising the close monitoring and personalized care.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
For over 120 years, we’ve been dedicated to making a difference and saving lives. Our efforts impact the more than 35 million people living in the United States with chronic lung disease, and millions more through our pioneering model of education, advocacy and research. Thank you for all you do to help us all breathe more easily! Visit Lung.org/get-involved to learn more about how you can make a difference.
Blog last updated: October 10, 2025
