American Lung Association opens grant applications for New Jersey lung health researchers
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey researchers studying lung disease, respiratory illnesses and air quality can apply for grants through the American Lung Association’s 2027-28 Research Awards and Grants cycle.
The American Lung Association Research Institute announced that applications are open for funding supporting basic, translational and clinical research. Researchers across disciplines and career levels are eligible to apply, subject to the requirements of individual grants.
“The American Lung Association in New Jersey is committed to investing in lifesaving research—it is core to our mission of creating a world free of lung disease. Amid federal changes in research and funding, it is more important than ever for nonprofit organizations to help sustain scientific discovery and innovation,” said Erica Masin, Executive Director for the American Lung Association in New Jersey. “By investing in the best and brightest scientists, we hope to accelerate lifesaving discoveries that revolutionize the way we prevent, detect and treat lung disease.”
The available funding includes awards focused on indoor air, lung cancer, emerging respiratory pathogens, interstitial lung disease, allergic respiratory diseases, public health and public policy.
The Indoor Air Research Award provides up to $100,000 per year for independent researchers or $50,000 per year for mentored researchers for up to three years. The award supports research into how indoor environments affect lung health.
The Lung Cancer Discovery Award and Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award each provide $100,000 annually for up to two years. The lung cancer award supports research ranging from laboratory studies to clinical investigations, while the respiratory pathogen award supports research into new and evolving respiratory pathogens and their long-term effects.
The Innovation Award provides $75,000 annually for up to two years for independent investigators with recent National Institutes of Health K- or R-type awards. The Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease also provides $75,000 annually for up to two years for qualifying independent investigators studying interstitial lung disease.
Another $75,000-per-year award, jointly funded with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, supports research into allergic respiratory diseases.
Early-career researchers can seek funding through the Catalyst Award, which provides $50,000 annually for up to two years for mentored scientists working toward research independence.
The Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award provides $50,000 annually for up to two years to mentored junior researchers studying interstitial lung disease. The Public Health and Public Policy Research Award provides the same amount for research and evaluations of policies affecting air quality and lung health.
Letters of intent are required for several of the awards.
The Lung Association said it has supported lung health research since 1904, with work contributing to advancements involving tuberculosis, respiratory distress in premature infants, lung cancer treatments, indoor air quality, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
Researchers applying for the 2027-28 grants must conduct their research in the United States and meet the qualifications and terms established for the individual awards.
The application and review process is expected to take six to eight months. Grant recipients are scheduled to be notified in June 2027.
Application materials are available through ProposalCentral. Additional information about the grants and application process is available at Lung.org/research.
