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Welcome to BREATHE Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments

Our Mission

To promote lung health and healthy environments to achieve health equity through a) research; b) community outreach and empowerment; c) advocacy and policy development; and d) access to health services.

BREATHE’S Vision is that all people will have access to clean air and live in healthy environments.

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Smoke-free Ordinances

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Tobacco-free Campuses

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Latest News

Ellen Hahn named a 2023 Healthy Kentucky Champion

UKNow Oct 16, 2023

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has announced its 2023 Healthy Kentucky Champions, recognized for their dedication to improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve, at the local and/or state level. This year, three faculty and administrators from the University of Kentucky have received this honor.

UK awarded $19 million to research tobacco regulation in Appalachia

The Lane Report Oct 9, 2023

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky will be home to a new research center focused on state tobacco regulations named the Appalachian Tobacco Regulatory Science Team (AppalTRuST) with its initial five years funded by a $19 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Candid photo at Lexington 20-year smoke-free celebration.

Lexington celebrates 20 years of being smoke-free

UKNow Jul 10, 2023

The city of Lexington celebrated the 20th anniversary of its historic smoke-free ordinance in a ceremony at the Lexington-Fayette Government Center. “Lexington’s smoke-free law has had an enormous impact on the health of Lexington citizens. In terms of public health, it is one of the most important, if not the most important, ordinance we have passed in the last 20 years,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “It has saved countless lives. I am proud to have left a public health legacy for all workers and residents.”

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