Mechanical solution to lung illness THE idea that the quest for useful knowledge can have no boundaries, whether geographical, disciplinary or institutional, underpins an innovative collaboration between a paediatric surgeon and an engineer seeking a better understanding of how air flows through the lung of a young child with breathing difficulties. Edwin Jesudason and Andreas Fouras are senior researchers working together to try to solve intractable lung diseases such as asthma. Both were funded by the American Asthma Foundation to develop novel solutions after ranking in the top 3 per cent of applicants.