National Health Council — Voluntary Health Agency Guide

The LAM Foundation

The LAM Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1995. The goals of the Foundation are to raise the level of awareness of LAM in the medical community, to provide information and support to women with LAM, and to promote scientific research. Annual conferences are held for patients, physicians and scientists, and post-doctoral fellowships and pilot project funding are offered for the study of the cellular and molecular basis of the abnormal smooth muscle proliferation.

About the condition(s):

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is a rare, progressive lung disease that strikes women of all races in the prime of their lives. The disease is characterized by the insidious growth of nonmalignant smooth muscle cells that infiltrate all lung structures, including the airways, blood vessels and lymph channels. Over time, the delicate architecture of the lungs is destroyed, blocking the flow of air, and limiting the delivery of oxygen to the rest of the body. Lung transplantation is the last resort.