Two researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute have received grants from the American Lung Association Research Institute for their innovative projects on lung disease treatments. Dr. Scott Matson has been awarded the Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award, while Dr. Navneet Dhillon has received the Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award.
Dr. Matson's research aims to identify metabolic changes in early-stage pulmonary fibrosis by studying over 7,000 subjects. The project focuses on metabolomic changes linked to CT scan patterns used in identifying early forms of pulmonary fibrosis, with the objective of finding key markers and pathways associated with the risk of this condition.
Dr. Dhillon's study is centered on distinguishing long COVID-19 patients through proteins found in circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs). These tiny particles may act as communicators between cells and organs, and their increased presence in blood following SARS-CoV-2 infection could help determine COVID-19 severity. Her team will investigate whether patients with long-term COVID-19 can be differentiated from those who have fully recovered based on circulating EVs and if this relates to chronic respiratory issues post-COVID-19.
The American Lung Association Research Institute announced a total investment of $22 million over the past year, supporting 139 research grants across various programs focused on lung health. "In 2024, the American Lung Association is celebrating 120 years of funding lifesaving research," said Linda Crider, Executive Director at the Lung Association. She highlighted achievements such as helping end tuberculosis devastation in the U.S., saving lives of premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and supporting COVID-19 research.
Awards were given across several categories addressing different aspects of lung disease, including allergic respiratory diseases, respiratory health equity research, emerging respiratory diseases, public health policy research, interstitial lung disease innovation awards among others.
Research projects funded by the association undergo rigorous scientific peer review to ensure they address complex issues related to lung health effectively.
The Lung Association is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 research awards cycle. For more information about these opportunities or details about new grant awardees and their work, visit Lung.org/awards or Lung.org/research-team.
