KI researcher Åsa Wheelock awarded the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation major grant 2019
KI-researcher Åsa Wheelock has been awarded a grant of SEK 15 million for molecular research on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of today’s major public diseases. Between 400,000 and 700,000 Swedes live with the disease and each year it contributes to around 3,000 deaths nationwide. This year, Åsa Wheelock, Associate Professor of experimental lung medicine at the Department of Medicine in Solna, has been awarded the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation’s major grant of SEK 15 million to study lungs on the molecular level.
Her research aims to define different profiles among people diagnosed with COPD and eventually develop patient-tailored treatment with medication. There is no cure for the disease. One challenge faced by researchers is determining why non-smokers can be affected by COPD. Prince Daniel presented the major grant, which is the largest single grant awarded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.