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Background
In February, 2003 the AQMD Board directed staff to
establish the Brain Tumor and Air Pollution Foundation (name later changed
to the current Brain & Lung Tumor & Air Pollution Foundation) to
implement an initiative by the Board Chairman to fund research into the
connections between air pollution and brain cancer. The incidence of
brain cancer has been growing at an increasingly rapid rate. Recent
research suggests that there may be a link between air pollution and some
types of brain tumors.
The
mission of the Foundation is to support research studies on the association
between air pollution and brain tumors, as well as research for the
development of novel therapeutics for brain tumors. The Board directed
that 10% of the penalty fees collected by the AQMD in FY 2002-03 --
approximately $723,000 -- be transferred to the Foundation to establish a
research program.
Directors and Officers
The Directors of the Foundation are:
- Michael Antonovich, Chairman
- Robert Davidson, Vice Chairman
- Bill Campbell
- Gary Ovitt
- Dennis Yates
The Officers of the Foundation are:
Barry Wallerstein, Chief Executive
Officer
Tania Christman, Secretary
Rick Pearce, Treasurer
Summary of Foundation Activities
The
Foundation Board has approved funding for two research grants. One
study will investigate the biochemical and pathological changes in brain
tissue potentially resulting from air pollution exposures. The second
study received funding to conduct an analysis of data on brain cancer
mortality and air pollution levels from a national cohort of individuals
lining the largest U.S. cities, and partial funding for an analysis of the
incidence of brain tumors in children and exposure to air pollutants in the
counties within the SCAQMD.
Future Plans
At its
February 2004 meeting, the AQMD Governing Board awarded $1.5 million to the
Foundation to fund additional research, provided the Foundation expanded its
purposes to include funding for lung cancer research and treatment.
Research has indicated that a significant portion of brain tumors may
initially occur in the lungs and migrate to the brain. In addition,
the AQMD conditioned its grant on the Foundation recovering royalties -- or
other payments from grantees -- from research funded by the Foundation with
monies provided by the AQMD. These payments would be returned to the
AQMD.
The
Foundation has presented annual reports to the AQMD Governing Board as
follows:
Third Annual Report (March 3,
2006)
Second Annual Report (March 4, 2005)
First Annual Report (March 5, 2004)
.
Meeting Agendas and Minutes
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