Researchers have isolated the inflammatory process that causes lung damage to individual who suffered traumatic brain injury, many of whom could have been lung transplanat donors. The majority of lungs used in transplantation are procured from brain dead donors, of which between 40 and 70 percent have sustained traumatic brain injury. Since only 15 to 20 percent of all lungs evaluated are deemed appropriate for transplant, there is clearly an opportunity to better prepare donor lungs.