The Dr. Goran Enhorning Foundation for Pulmonary Research was established to further the research into diseases affecting the lungs and to recognize Dr. Enhorning’s contributions made to medical science.
Dr. Enhorning spent much of his career studying, researching and developing a treatment for Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or IRDS. This research began in 1962 and would continue for 30 years. His research and efforts have led to the development of commercial products that are now regularly used all over the world to treat IRDS. Over the past 20 years they have helped countless premature infants breathe normally.
Surfactant, meaning surface active agent, is a substance that alters the surface tension between a liquid and air or between liquids and solid surfaces. For humans it is a critical component of the lungs that allows us to breathe efficiently and effectively. Without it the effort needed to open up the alveoli is too great and we eventually die of exhaustion and so suffocate. This was the plight of many premature infants until lung, or pulmonary, surfactants were identified as being insufficient and replacement therapies were created and introduced in the late 1980’s. Spearheading this research was Dr. Goran Enhorning.
Dr. Enhorning was born on March 18, 1924 in Sweden. In 1952 he graduated as a medical doctor and then spent two separate tours in Korea as a surgeon for the UN. For this he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1954. In 1961 he completed his PhD thesis on the causes of urinary stress incontinence. This is still required reading for anyone entering this field.
By 1962 his focus shifted to the plight of newborns who were unable to breathe properly. This initially led him to Utah and California as a Fulbright Scholar from 1961-64, before returning to Sweden in 1964. In 1971 he moved to the University of Toronto, which is where he did much of his groundbreaking research. Not only did he develop a usable lung surfactant, but many pieces of equipment, including the Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer, needed to assess the performance of the surfactants that were being developed.
Goran Enhorning was not the only physician scientist who contributed to the development of this therapy, but he focused the world scientific community and his innovations and leadership are directly responsible for the worldwide success of surfactant replacement therapy today. By 1962 his focus shifted to the plight of newborns that were unable to breathe properly. This initially led him to Utah and California as a Fulbright Scholar from 1961-64, before returning to Sweden in 1964. In 1972 he moved to the University of Toronto, which is where he did much of his groundbreaking research. Not only did he develop a usable lung surfactant, but many pieces of equipment, including the Pulsating Bubble Surfactometer, needed to assess the performance of the surfactants that were being developed.” — (Buffalo Physician, Spring 1999)
His research culminated in clinical trials conducted both in Toronto at the Women’s College Hospital in 1983 and subsequently in Ottawa. This product was subsequently commercialized by ONY Inc, and is now sold under the trade name Infasurf.
In 1989 he questioned whether asthma and pulmonary surfactant function were related. By 1999 he had turned his full attention to asthma. He was convinced that asthma was at least partially due to poorly functioning lung surfactant. While he conducted some experiments in this field and published a number of articles, unfortunately this work was not completed.
According to a 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 8% of the US population suffered from asthma, and this number is growing. (“CDC Vital Signs, May 2011”). The annual health bill in the US was $56 billion in 2009.
If a cure can be found for this disease it would not only remove an incredible financial burden, but a physical and emotional one as well. This is why Dr. Enhorning was passionate about finding a cure.
This Foundation’s mandate is to support research so that a cure for asthma and other pulmonary diseases can be found. If you are able, we would appreciate your support. Please give now. Everyone has the right to live life to the fullest.
Goals of this Foundation
To make a meaningful impact, our financial goal is to raise $1,000,000. To date there is more than $250,000 in the fund. Please help us reach our goals so that the memory of Dr. Enhorning can live on in all those he affected in such a positive way.
To make sure that donations are deductible for tax purposes two funds have been established. Canadian donors can donate to the Dr. Goran Enhorning Foundation for Pulmonary Research, at www.easydonate.com/enhorningfoundation
US donors can donate through the University of Buffalo, at www.giving.buffalo.edu. Please specify that the gift is for the Dr. Goran Enhorning Fund for Pulmonary Research.
Required reading – Baby’s Breath – Buffalo Physician – Spring 1999