Advocacy
We counter smoking and vaping discourse aimed at young people with early, honest, evidence-based education — in classrooms, in print, and online.
501(c)(3) Public Health Nonprofit
Pulmonary health, taken to the communities the system leaves behind.
The Breathe Better Foundation pairs free clinical-grade spirometry screening with evidence-based advocacy and peer-reviewed research — so respiratory risk gets caught before it becomes disease.
Free
Clinical-grade spirometry screening, at no cost to participants
Peer‑Reviewed
Findings held to academic publication standards
Student‑Run
Chapters led by undergraduates across four campuses
501(c)(3)
Registered nonprofit, open to partnership & support
What We Do
Three ways we protect the next breath.
Advocacy changes the conversation. Screening catches risk early. Research makes sure both are built on evidence — not assumption.
Screenings
We bring clinical-grade spirometry equipment directly to low-income communities to flag pulmonary hazards before they become diagnoses.
Research
Our screening and advocacy work feeds a research program built on wet lab and clinical collaborations, headed toward peer-reviewed publication.
See It in Person
A screening day, in the field.
Our Chapters
Start a chapter at your school →
Built by students, run like an institution.
Los Angeles, CA
UCLA Chapter
Screening events and campus advocacy across greater Los Angeles.
Seattle, WAUW Seattle Chapter
Community partnerships throughout the Puget Sound region.
Berkeley, CAUC Berkeley Chapter
Research collaboration and outreach in the East Bay.
Tucson, AZUniversity of Arizona Chapter
Screening access work across Southern Arizona.
Volunteer With Us
Translators Requested for Screening Events
A screening only works if the person in the chair understands what we're asking them. We're building a standing list of volunteer translators so no language barrier stands between someone and a free lung screening. Sign up once — we'll call when we need you.
Founded By
Zaid Vellani & Rishit Bhat
Two students who set out to build the organization they thought pulmonary health was missing: one that treats advocacy, screening, and research as a single, evidence-based practice rather than three separate causes.
Meet the Founders
The Model
Why three pillars, together
A screening only matters if someone acts on the result. A lecture only lands if it's backed by data. A finding only counts if it's tested. Advocacy, Screenings, and Research at the Breathe Better Foundation are designed to reinforce one another — not run in parallel.
Join Us
Bring a screening to your community — or start a chapter at your school.
Acknowledgements
The founders of the Breathe Better Foundation would like to thank every care center, provider, and patient who trusted us with leading the next generation of students and researchers passionate about pulmonary medicine.
Helping our communities through times of great change and momentum has been a privilege beyond explanation — made possible primarily by the sacrifices of our parents, mentors, and excellent peers.
With particular thanks to Manahil, Amir, and Zainub Vellani; Charu, Sanjeev, and Neil Bhat; Dr. Derek Cleland, Dr. Vini Kusupati, Dr. Sai Narasimmal, Dr. Alvin Chan, and Dr. Kalen Hendra; Jonathan Webb, Jamil Price, Fedal Hannoun, and Chibudom Ofoegbu — and to NDD Medical Technologies and Breathe Southern California, for their support.
And a special, mostly-serious thanks to Tennessee Hot Chicken, the unofficial food sponsor of the Breathe Better Foundation.