Respiratory Health Association (RHA) named M. Bradley Drummond, MD, MHS, the recipient of the 2023 Solovy Award for Advancement in COPD. Dr. Drummond is a distinguished, board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician and associate professor of medicine.
The Solovy Award was established in memory of Mr. Jerold Solovy by his wife, Kathleen Hart Solovy, and funded by the Kathleen Hart Solovy and Jerold S. Solovy Endowment for COPD. This award aims to reduce the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inspire innovation among lung health researchers.
Upon receiving the Solovy Award, Dr. Drummond will be granted $20,000 to further his COPD research endeavors. This funding will allow him to pursue innovative approaches and breakthroughs that will positively impact the lives of those affected by COPD.
“I have dedicated my career to COPD research as a direct result of my personal experiences caring for patients with COPD. I know what this disease does to people, and these experiences keep me motivated to make discoveries to help those impacted by COPD.” Drummond stated. “This perspective makes the Solovy award, coming from a patient and family impacted by COPD, truly special to me.”
Dr. Drummond is renowned for his expertise in COPD, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and smoking cessation. He has dedicated his career to unraveling the mechanisms underlying chronic lung disease development and finding innovative solutions for at-risk individuals and those already diagnosed with COPD. As a clinical and translational researcher, Dr. Drummond has focused on characterizing the intricate processes involved in the development of chronic lung disease in high-risk populations. With expertise in epidemiology and clinical trials design, he has shed light on patterns and risk factors for lung function progression in smokers and individuals living with HIV. He also characterizes the longitudinal impact of smoking, HIV infection and tobacco dependence on long-term outcomes related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Millions of individuals and their families around the world battle COPD every day,” Drummond stated. “It is their courage and resilience in the face of this insidious disease that fuels my determination to find better treatments, improve patient care, and ultimately discover a cure.”
Dr. Drummond’s projects include a groundbreaking study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), investigating the role of nasal mucosal immunity and microbiome in controlling COPD progression. He is also actively involved in the Subpopulations and intermediate outcome measures in COPD study (SPIROMICS). In his role as the director of the UNC Obstructive Lung Diseases Clinical and Translational Research Center, Dr. Drummond oversees several clinical research studies, collaborating with NIH and industry sponsors. His leadership and expertise have propelled advancements in COPD research, paving the way for improved treatments and patient care.
“We are excited to recognize Dr. Drummond for his work on behalf of COPD patients and look forward to following his research efforts,” said Joel Africk, RHA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “COPD has claimed too many of our family members, friends, and colleagues. We are reminded that funding for COPD research is much less than other common chronic diseases.”
Each year Respiratory Health Association awards early-stage research grants to promising projects covering lung diseases such as lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Learn more about RHA’s research program and funding opportunities at RespHealth.org/Research.
About Respiratory Health Association
RHA has been a local public health leader in Chicago since 1906. RHA works to prevent lung disease, promote clean air, and help people live better through education, research, and policy change. To learn more, visit www.resphealth.org.