The American Lung Association Research Institute has announced a significant investment of $22 million in lung health research over the past year. This initiative places it among the leading programs nationwide focused on advancing lung health. The funding has been allocated to 139 research grants, including those for the Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) and strategic partnerships aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and cures for lung diseases.
"The newly funded projects, spanning from asthma and COPD research to lung cancer and respiratory viruses, are a vital part of the Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health," stated Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. He highlighted the organization's long-standing role in enhancing public health through initiatives against tuberculosis, advancements in lung cancer treatments, and research on respiratory viruses such as COVID-19. "We are proud to increase our research investment to $22 million to help us identify, treat, and ultimately cure lung diseases that affect millions of people across the country."
Wimmer further emphasized their commitment to ensuring everyone breathes healthy air: "Our research investments are also guided by the belief that everyone deserves to breathe healthy air." He noted that these grants address various aspects of lung disease from tackling lung cancer to exploring indoor air quality impacts.
This year's awards cover multiple categories related to different facets of lung disease. These include awards like the American Lung Association/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award and others focused on respiratory health equity, emerging respiratory diseases, public health policy, interstitial lung disease innovation, and more. The projects funded undergo rigorous scientific peer review processes.
The association's Research Institute encompasses an Awards and Grants program alongside its Airways Clinical Research Network—the largest not-for-profit network dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research in the nation. Applications for its 2025-2026 research awards cycle are currently being accepted.
For detailed information about new grant awardees or other inquiries related to their research team efforts, interested parties can visit Lung.org/research-team.
