Re: Perivascular tissue of internal thoracic artery releases potent nitric oxide and prostacyclin-independent anticontractile factor.

Letter to the Editor ors of the original paper [1] were invited to comment on this Letter to the Editor but declined the offer. §§ I am a principle investigator in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (IELCAP) lung cancer screening project. I have received $30,000 in data management support as well as travel, meals and accommodations to semi-annual IELCAP meetings. Last week an article in the New York Times revealed that IELCAP had accepted a gift of $2.4 million from a foundation created largely by the Vector Corporation, parent company to Liggett Tobacco in 2000 and subsequently another $1.1 million. I was not aware of this tobacco industry funding before the Times article. This money comprises approximately 6% of IELCAP funding. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 626 359 8111x64119; fax: +1 626 301 8855. E-mail address: [email protected].