The breadth of the scientific team that is developing a sophisticated 3-D model of the respiratory system is enough to take your breath away. The years-long effort has required cooperation from experts in biology, applied mathematics, magnetic resonance imaging, CT scanning, bioinformatics and other areas.

At the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the effort was led by toxicologist Rick Corley until his retirement earlier this year after a 20-year career at PNNL.

Last month Corley received the Toxicology Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Association of Toxicologists for his work modeling the full chain of human respiration, from organ, to tissue, to cell, and down to individual molecule.

Such work has increased our understanding of how lungs develop in healthy people and in people with diseases that affect millions of people, such as asthma. The work also helps physicians understand lung development in the most vulnerable population — very premature babies whose undeveloped lungs are the chief barrier to survival. Corley's work has also helped scientists understand the actions of pollutants and other contaminants in our bodies.

Read this story to learn more about Corley's contributions to toxicology and lung science.