Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
Encyclopedia
LRRI is a private, not-for-profit biomedical research organization dedicated to improving public health through research on the prevention, treatment, and cure of respiratory disease
. LRRI employs over 500 staff in New Mexico and in 2008 is spending more than $60 million in the fight against respiratory diseases such as asthma
, emphysema
, lung cancer
, bronchitis
and allergies. LRRI currently has two main locations, both located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. Most of LRRI's funding comes from United States government and private grants.
New Mexico in 1906 as a company physician for the Santa Fe Railroad and a construction project with the Lantry Sharp Construction Company. He sought the Southwest due to his contraction of tuberculosis
. Living in a dry, sunny climate was a recommended therapy in the pre-antibiotic era. In 1908, his extended family, including his brother Edgar (who pursued a successful career as a rancher) and Edgar's infant son, William Randolph Lovelace II
, moved to New Mexico. In part resulting from his frustration with the limited medical capabilities of his rural practice and in part through discussions at medical meetings with Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo (who established the Mayo clinic), Dr. Lovelace formed the dream of developing a multispecialty clinical center. By the time New Mexico
became a state in 1912, Albuquerque had become the new state's largest city. In 1913, Dr. Lovelace moved to Albuquerque and established a successful private practice. The Lovelace Clinic became the Southwest's first center of specialty medicine, specifically treatment of tuberculosis.
The nephew
of Dr. Lovelace, William Randolph Lovelace II
(Randy), pursued a career in medicine and received his M.D. from Harvard University
in 1934. Due to his prowess as a surgeon, Randy was appointed Chief of Surgery within a few years of the commencement of his fellowship with Mayo Clinic
. The polio outbreak of the 1940s had a devastating effect on Randy's life, with his two sons succumbing to the disease in 1946. Randy and his wife moved back to Albuquerque where the older Dr. Lovelace asked him to join his specialty clinic. Randy agreed to join him on the condition that the clinic expand to the three-part mission of health care, research, and education. The nonprofit Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research was thus formed. Through grants from the United States government agencies and private companies alike, multiple properties were purchased in the Southeast corner of Albuquerque, one of which is currently the site of LRRI's North Campus.
In 1959, the Lovelace Clinic was the place where 32 candidate pilots were tested under a contract to NASA
through a seven-day series of rigorous psychological and physiological tests. Out of this pool of candidates the seven Project Mercury
astronauts were selected.
Over the years, the Foundation's research expanded into additional fields, such as the study of the effects from inhalation of radioactive particles. Inside Kirtland Air Force Base
, the Fission Product Inhalation Laboratory was constructed in 1964. FPIL quickly became one of the world's foremost centers for the study of inhalation toxicology. In the 1970s, the facility was expanded to study the inhalation of non-radioactive materials, and renamed the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute (ITRI). ITRI eventually became the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) in 1996.
Currently, LRRI is the nation's largest independent, not-for-profit organization conducting basic and applied research on the causes and treatments of respiratory illness and disease.
Respiratory disease
Respiratory disease is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms, and includes conditions of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity, and the...
. LRRI employs over 500 staff in New Mexico and in 2008 is spending more than $60 million in the fight against respiratory diseases such as asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
, lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
and allergies. LRRI currently has two main locations, both located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. Most of LRRI's funding comes from United States government and private grants.
History
The Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute traces its roots to the arrival of Dr. William Randolph Lovelace I to Sunnyside-Fort SumnerFort Sumner
Fort Sumner was a military fort in De Baca County in southeastern New Mexico charged with the internment of Navajo and Mescalero Apache populations from 1863-1868 at nearby Bosque Redondo.-History:...
New Mexico in 1906 as a company physician for the Santa Fe Railroad and a construction project with the Lantry Sharp Construction Company. He sought the Southwest due to his contraction of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. Living in a dry, sunny climate was a recommended therapy in the pre-antibiotic era. In 1908, his extended family, including his brother Edgar (who pursued a successful career as a rancher) and Edgar's infant son, William Randolph Lovelace II
William Randolph Lovelace II
William Randolph "Randy" Lovelace II was an American physician who made contributions to aerospace medicine....
, moved to New Mexico. In part resulting from his frustration with the limited medical capabilities of his rural practice and in part through discussions at medical meetings with Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo (who established the Mayo clinic), Dr. Lovelace formed the dream of developing a multispecialty clinical center. By the time New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
became a state in 1912, Albuquerque had become the new state's largest city. In 1913, Dr. Lovelace moved to Albuquerque and established a successful private practice. The Lovelace Clinic became the Southwest's first center of specialty medicine, specifically treatment of tuberculosis.
The nephew
Nephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
of Dr. Lovelace, William Randolph Lovelace II
William Randolph Lovelace II
William Randolph "Randy" Lovelace II was an American physician who made contributions to aerospace medicine....
(Randy), pursued a career in medicine and received his M.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1934. Due to his prowess as a surgeon, Randy was appointed Chief of Surgery within a few years of the commencement of his fellowship with Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
. The polio outbreak of the 1940s had a devastating effect on Randy's life, with his two sons succumbing to the disease in 1946. Randy and his wife moved back to Albuquerque where the older Dr. Lovelace asked him to join his specialty clinic. Randy agreed to join him on the condition that the clinic expand to the three-part mission of health care, research, and education. The nonprofit Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research was thus formed. Through grants from the United States government agencies and private companies alike, multiple properties were purchased in the Southeast corner of Albuquerque, one of which is currently the site of LRRI's North Campus.
In 1959, the Lovelace Clinic was the place where 32 candidate pilots were tested under a contract to NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
through a seven-day series of rigorous psychological and physiological tests. Out of this pool of candidates the seven Project Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
astronauts were selected.
Over the years, the Foundation's research expanded into additional fields, such as the study of the effects from inhalation of radioactive particles. Inside Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland...
, the Fission Product Inhalation Laboratory was constructed in 1964. FPIL quickly became one of the world's foremost centers for the study of inhalation toxicology. In the 1970s, the facility was expanded to study the inhalation of non-radioactive materials, and renamed the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute (ITRI). ITRI eventually became the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) in 1996.
Currently, LRRI is the nation's largest independent, not-for-profit organization conducting basic and applied research on the causes and treatments of respiratory illness and disease.
Mission
The mission of LRRI is to serve humanity through research on the prevention, treatment, and cure of respiratory disease.See also
- Kirtland Air Force BaseKirtland Air Force BaseKirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland...
- William Randolph Lovelace IIWilliam Randolph Lovelace IIWilliam Randolph "Randy" Lovelace II was an American physician who made contributions to aerospace medicine....
- Respiratory DiseaseRespiratory diseaseRespiratory disease is a medical term that encompasses pathological conditions affecting the organs and tissues that make gas exchange possible in higher organisms, and includes conditions of the upper respiratory tract, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura and pleural cavity, and the...
External links
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute Repository. Contains historical photos and papers.
- LRRI Corporate Website.
- Breathe; a publication of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute http://www.lrri.org/DPage.aspx?p=90
- Corporate Website. http://www.lrri.org/
- Corporate Website "About Us" http://www.lrri.org/AboutLRRI.aspx
- Spidle, Jake W. The Lovelace Medical Center. University of New Mexico Press, 1987. ISBN 0-8263-1007-9