Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is devastating condition characterized by severe hypoxemia, the accumulation of non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema and lung inflammation. ARDS affects >10% of all patients to admitted to Intensive Care Units worldwide, of whom 35-45% die [1], predominantly of multi-organ failure. Survivors of ARDS are often left with significant long-term morbidities, and the healthcare costs associated with ARDS even years 3-5 after diagnosis matching those of chronic conditions such as cardiac failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [2]. Despite decades of research, and many clinical trials, there remains no effective pharmacotherapy for ARDS.