The Breath Holding Project for Asthma Research

By Russell Traister
Backed by Daniel Doberer, Sandra B Traister, Joe Francisco, Elena Jimenez Gutierrez, and Sherri Hill
University of Pittsburgh
North Versailles, Pennsylvania
BiologyMedicine
$200
Raised of $10,000 Goal
2%
Ended on 10/25/14
Campaign Ended
  • $200
    pledged
  • 2%
    funded
  • Finished
    on 10/25/14

About This Project

The Breath Holding Project for Asthma Research is an effort to raise awareness for the need for funds for asthma researchers and their research. Funding resources are diminishing forcing young investigators to leave the field of research for other opportunities. Contributing to this project will help asthma researchers work towards a cure for asthma. The video below will be shared on social media sites to help raise money for this project.

Ask the Scientists

Join The Discussion

What is the context of this research?

Asthma affects millions of people and the cost to the healthcare system is astronomical. Unfortunately, funding opportunities for medical research are harder and harder to come by, driving many potential researchers into other fields.

Crowdfunding is a relatively unexplored area in terms of supporting scientific research, but if successful would provide researchers with an avenue to directly communicate and engage with the public about their research. This is different than other support mechanisms as donors can directly connect with the research, and be part of a very tangible research experience.

With the breath holding challenge I hope to raise awareness for asthma and provide an avenue for donating to the cause. 100% of proceeds will go towards asthma research in my laboratory.

What is the significance of this project?

Asthma afflicts millions of Americans. While currently available treatment options are sufficient for most of those afflicted with asthma, severe asthma affects around 10% of the asthma population and contributes to a large portion of the astronomical costs of the disease. It remains poorly understood and characterized with few therapeutic options. By raising awareness and providing an avenue for the general public to donate to this important cause, young investigators will be provided with monetary support for their research in the asthma field. I am personally researching the molecule IL-33 and its receptor ST2, as they appear to play an important role in some patients with severe asthma. The initial funding goal will go to directly provide reagents and supplies for this research.

What are the goals of the project?

1. Raise awareness for the need for asthma research via social media.
2. Raise money to support young investigators, including myself, in the field of asthma research.
3. Perform asthma research and publish results.
4. Discover potential targets for novel asthma therapies and develop new treatment options for asthma.

Budget

Research is an expensive endeavor. There are costs for lab space, lab supplies, equipment, and reagents to carry out the research. Salaries for those carrying out the research must be supported, including lab technicians and lab managers.

Unfortunately funding from other sources is becoming harder and harder to obtain. My initial funding goal, which I hope to surpass, is to obtain $10,000 that will help purchase lab supplies and reagents directly related to my asthma research.

If funding is surpassed, the money will be placed towards more reagents and supplies and salary support for researchers and technicians. 100% of proceeds will be put towards supporting asthma researchers and their research.

Meet the Team

Russell Traister
Russell Traister

Team Bio

My primary career goal is to become an independent investigator involved in patient-oriented translational research, with a specific focus on the immunology of asthma. While an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University I spent a year working at a pharmaceutical company as a research technician and after graduation, spent 2 years as a technician and lab manager in a small research laboratory. I then joined an MD/PhD program. After completion of my thesis in the immunology department, where I gained expertise in basic immunology and performed translational research in the field of rheumatoid arthritis, I finished my training, including an allergy/immunology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. My current research focus is on the novel cytokine IL-33 and its receptor ST2. These molecules have both recently been genetically associated with asthma, though their functional role is unclear. My future research will be primarily aimed at exploring this pathway in more detail.

Lab Notes

Nothing posted yet.

Project Backers

  • 5Backers
  • 2%Funded
  • $200Total Donations
  • $40.00Average Donation