The following grant opportunities do not require a letter of intent in the current grant cycle.

• Unless stated otherwise, all grants are targeted towards early-stage investigators. 
  • We strongly advise reviewing eligibility criteria, instructions and the descriptions below before starting an application.
  • You will be required to pass an eligibility quiz to gain access to the application. Be sure to check your eligibility before beginning the quiz as once submitted, your answers cannot be changed. 
• Links to the eligibility quiz and online application form can be found following each grant description below.
• Questions? Review the FAQs
• Need help? Contact the ATS Research Program

Timeline

ATS/ALA Commemorative 120th Anniversary Joint Research Award 

One grant available
$60,000 per year for two years

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators

This grant will fund basic, translational or clinical research that has a high likelihood of advancing the understanding of lung disease.

Grant funds may be used to provide salary support for the PI or ancillary staff, to purchase supplies and/or reagents, or for subject enrollment fees directly related to the project or other allowable costs. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.  

Co-funded by the American Lung Association & ATS.

Apply for the ATS/ALA Commemorative 120th Anniversary Joint Research Award here.

ALA/ATS/CHEST Respiratory Health Equity Research Award

One grant available
$100,000 per year for two years

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators who are addressing topics on improving clinical outcomes in preventing and/or treating lung disease in groups disproportionately impacted.

The focus of this grant is clinical research that addresses topics on improving clinical outcomes in preventing and/or treating lung disease that disproportionately affects underrepresented minority (URM) patient groups. URM patient groups includes patients from lower-middle- and low-income countries as defined by the World Bank, or the following North American populations: African Americans, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islanders, and mainland Puerto Ricans.

Applicants may request up to $100,000 per year for two years for salaries, supplies, or a combination of these two. No more than 20% of the budget can be for salary. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

Recipients will also be eligible for complimentary registration and a $1,000 travel stipend to attend both the ATS International Conference and CHEST Annual Meeting up to one-year past conclusion of the research to present data.

Award-specific eligibility:

• Must be US citizens or hold a visa that spans the project period of the grant
• Early-stage investigators (as defined here) and applicants who are trainees (fellows)
• Applicants holding PhD, MD, RN, RRT, or PA degrees
• Must be a member of both the ATS and CHEST
• Must meet eligibility requirements for all grants found here

Co-funded by the American Lung Association, ATS, and CHEST.

Apply for the ALA/ATS/CHEST Respiratory Health Equity Research Award here.

ATS/Alpha-1 Foundation Young Investigator Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency  

One grant available 
$50,000 for one year

Target Audience: Early-career investigators interested in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency research. 

The objective of this grant is to provide support for early-career investigators who are starting their research careers and intend to pursue a career in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency research.

Applications will be accepted from candidates holding an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree who are interested in conducting basic science, clinical research, or ethic, legal, or social issues studies related to AAT deficiency.

Applicants must indicate a commitment to AAT-related research by focusing 50% of their time on AAT deficiency research or clinical practice.

Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

Funded by the Alpha-1 Foundation, Inc.  

Apply for the ATS/Alpha-1 Foundation Young Investigator Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency here. 

ATS/Chiesi USA, Inc. Research Grant in Obstructive Lung Disease

One grant available
$50,000 for one year

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators interested in obstructive lung disease research.

This grant will support research that has a high likelihood of advancing the understanding of obstructive lung disease through basic, translational or clinical research.

Grant funds may be used to provide salary support for the PI or ancillary staff, to purchase supplies and/or reagents, or for subject enrollment fees directly related to the project or other allowable costs. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.  

Fully funded by Chiesi USA, Inc.

Apply for the ATS/Chiesi USA, Inc Research Grant in Obstructive Lung Disease here.

ATS/Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Research Grant in Nasal High Flow

One grant available
$50,000 for one year

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators interested in research on respiratory support with nasal high flow therapy in patients managed in the emergency department, intensive care unit, or ward.

The focus of this research grant is proposals on respiratory support with nasal high flow therapy in adult patients. Patients must be in the hospital care during their involvement in the project. 

Nasal high flow (NHF) therapy refers to a typical range from 20 to 70 L/min of heated, humidified gas delivered to the nares via purposely designed nasal cannula. Flow settings and fraction of delivered supplemental oxygen during the therapy vary depending on the patient’s level of compliance and severity of disease. There has been a recent rapid uptake in the use of NHF in acute care settings, primarily to treat hypoxemic respiratory failure, and the therapy has been extensively used around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from efficient oxygenation due to the prevention of room air entrainment, NHF provides respiratory support that may be seen in the reduction of the breathing frequency and the work of breathing. Positive airway pressure and the reduction of re-breathing caused by the clearance of expired gas in the upper airways are believed to be the key mechanisms that may improve the ventilation efficiency during NHF. Saturation with water of heated gas maintains hydration of the airway surface liquid and preserves mucociliary function.

NHF therapy is increasingly used in stable patients with lung disease or post-surgery who require support during unassisted breathing with little or no supplemental oxygen. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, in collaboration with the American Thoracic Society, seeks to offer a research award to investigators interested in studying these potential benefits of NHF in hospital patients. The prospective study could be aimed at better understanding the mechanisms of action of this therapy, or on achieving improvements in a variety of likely outcomes. 

Applicants may request up to $50,000 for one year. NHF equipment and consumables will be provided for the study by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare at no cost. Granted funds may be used to provide salary support for the PI or ancillary staff, to purchase supplies and/or reagents, or subject enrollment fees directly related to the project or other allowable costs. Travel for the PI for purposes of presenting data related to the project is limited to $2,000 per year. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

Fully funded by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Apply for the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Research Grant in Nasal High Flow here. 

ATS/Margaret W. Leigh/PCD Foundation Early Career Investigator Award

One grant available 
$60,000 for one year

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators interested in primary ciliary dyskinesia research. 

The PCD Foundation Margaret W. Leigh Early Career Investigator Award supports emerging PhD and physician scientists who are actively involved in research in primary ciliary dyskinesia to allow them to develop into independent biomedical investigators. The proposed research must be relevant to the mission of the PCD Foundation, improving the health and well-being of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. 

Applicants may request up to $60,000 for one year. Funds may be used to provide salary support for the PI or ancillary staff, to purchase supplies and/or reagents, or for subject enrollment fees directly related to the project or other allowable costs. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.  

Award Specific Eligibility:

• Early-stage investigators and fellows
• An institutional commitment for a faculty position is not required for this award

Co-funded by ATS and PCD Foundation. 

Apply for the ATS/Margaret W. Leigh/PCD Foundation Early Career Investigator Award here.

ATS/Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Grant

One grant available
$50,000 per year for two years

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators interested in research that is relevant to sarcoidosis.

This research grant focuses on proposals that advance research in sarcoidosis. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per year for two years. Grant funds may be used to provide salary support for the PI or ancillary staff, to purchase supplies and/or reagents, or for subject enrollment fees directly related to the project or other allowable costs. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution. 

Co-funded by ATS and the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research.

Apply for the ATS/Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Grant here.

ATS Early Career Investigator Award in Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Four grants available
$100,000 for one year

Target Audience: Early-stage investigators conducting research on the basic mechanisms and/or vascular biology of pulmonary vascular disease. Applicants may be a junior faculty member up to and including the rank of assistant professor, a postdoctoral scholar, a doctoral candidate, or a fellow.

Note that the definition for early-stage investigator for this award differs from that of other ATS awards. View complete eligibility requirements.

This grant supports basic, translational, and clinical research aimed at understanding the pathways and pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular disease, with the goal of improving treatment for patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Award-specific eligibility:

• Must be a US or Canadian citizen or permanent resident working at a US or Canadian institution
• Must have a firm commitment from their home institution for mentored career development
• Review the complete eligibility criteria for this award.

Funded by Johnson & Johnson. 

Apply for the ATS Early Career Investigator Award in Pulmonary Vascular Disease here.