The Asthma Society of Canada (ASC) is pleased to announce the creation of the Dr. Goran Enhorning Asthma Research Fund after receiving an unprecedented gift of $230,000 from the Dr. Goran Enhorning Foundation for Pulmonary Research. This donation will be allocated to support further research into finding a cure for asthma and continuing some of the revolutionary research first started by Dr. Enhorning in the 1960s. Funds will also be used to encourage others to provide support to further research into this widely prevalent disease.
“The Asthma Society of Canada has been a leader in asthma support, research and education. I am confident that through this contribution we will one day see a cure for asthma,” said Dag Enhorning, the son of Dr. Enhorning, and Founder of the Enhorning Foundation.
Asthma affects over 3 million Canadians, including 13% of all children. Between 150,000 and 250,000 individuals suffer from Severe Asthma, a more severe form of the disease, which poses a greater threat to life and impacts the health and economic well-being of those affected. 250 Canadians will die this year from asthma.
Dr. Enhorning spent much of his career studying, researching and developing a treatment for Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or IRDS. His research and efforts have led to the development of commercial products that are now regularly being used all over the world to treat IRDS. Over the past 20 years they have helped countless premature infants breathe normally. Surfactant, meaning surface active agent, is a substance that alters the surface tension between a liquid and air or between liquids and solid surfaces. For humans, it is a critical component of the lungs that allows us to breathe efficiently and effectively.
In 1989, Dr. Enhorning questioned whether asthma and pulmonary surfactant function were related. By 1999, he had turned his full attention to asthma, believing that the disease was at least partially due to poorly functioning lung surfactant. He was unfortunately unable to complete this work.
“The Asthma Society is deeply thankful for the generosity of Mr. Enhorning,” said ASC Acting President & CEO Noah Farber. “It is contributions like this that provide people with asthma with hope that a cure can be found,” Farber concluded.
To make a contribution to the Dr. Goran Enhorning Asthma Research Fund visit www.asthma.ca or call 1-866-787-4050.
About the Asthma Society of Canada
The Asthma Society of Canada (ASC) is a national charitable volunteer-supported organization devoted to enhancing the quality of life and health for people living with asthma and associated allergies through education, research and advocacy. The ASC has a 40-year reputation of providing health education services to patients and healthcare professionals.
