2011 Grant Portfolio

ATS Foundation Research Program - 2011 Grant Portfolio

The deadline for the below grant opportunities has passed. Please check back here in December 2011 for the 2012 grant portfolio.

The American Thoracic Society and our partners in research are pleased to announce the 2011 ATS Foundation Research Program portfolio of grants.  The ATS is grateful to its partners and members for the success of the research program.

The grants are explained below, along with the application process, applicant qualification requirements and timeline for the review process.

Potential applicants should submit letters of intent (LOI) using the LOI application that is available through the proposalCENTRAL web site at https://proposalcentral.altum.com.  The letters of intent will be used to narrow the number of applicants for each grant category, in order to avoid having a large number of applicants competing for a limited number of awards.  Letters of intent should be submitted via the proposalCENTRAL web site by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday March 15, 2011.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

Note: If you would like to apply for a MECOR Research Award, you must submit an application using the form available on the ATS web site. For more information about the MECOR awards, please visit the ATS web site at http://thoracic.org/research/research-program-portfolio/2011-mecor-research-awards.php.

Please contact Liz Giancola, Manager, ATS Foundation Research Program at 212-315-8696 or egiancola@thoracic.org with any questions related to requirements and eligibility.

Timeline for 2011 ATS Research Grants
(Funding to begin in October 2011)

2011 ATS Foundation Research Program Portfolio

ATS Grant Opportunities: Breakthrough Opportunities in Lung Disease (BOLD) Research Grants

ATS/Alpha-1 Foundation Research Grant (one grant available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation

One research grant will be awarded to support novel studies of COPD, with an emphasis on Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency or genetic aspects of COPD.  Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training. Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply.  At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Children’s Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation (one grant available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation and Children’s Interstitial Lung Disease Foundation

One research grant will be awarded with a focus on Children’s Interstitial Lung Disease and/or diffuse lung disease (e.g.: Surfactant dysfunction mutations, neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy, pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, non-transplant-related bronchiolitis obliterans or autoimmune lung disease). This grant is not focused on chronic lung disease of prematurity. The successful research grant will have a high probability of advancing the understanding of disease mechanisms, improving diagnosis, or finding new treatment approaches for these rare pediatric lung diseases. Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 year for salaries and supplies. Preference will be given to faculty at the assistant professor level, who are 1-7 years from the completion of training. However, exceptional and novel grants will be entertained from faculty without established funding. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged. One of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network Research Grant (one grant available)

• Co-funded by ATS Foundation and the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network

One research grant will be awarded to support novel studies focusing on the pulmonary fibrosis of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome.  Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training. Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply.  At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis/Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Research Grants
(two grants available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation, the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The target audience for these research grants will be US-based investigators interested in research that is relevant to Pulmonary Fibrosis.  The focus of the research grants will be programs that have a high likelihood to advance the understanding of Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Applications are encouraged from new faculty members who have a strong link with one or more senior investigator.  Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators.  Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training.  One of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the Principal Investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Research Grants (one grants available)

• Fully funded by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The target audience for these research grants will be investigators interested in research that is relevant to Pulmonary Fibrosis.  The focus of the research grants will be programs that have a high likelihood to advance the understanding of Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Applications are encouraged from new faculty members who have a strong link with one or more senior investigator.  Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators.  Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training.  Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply. One of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the Principal Investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Pulmonary Hypertension Association/Pfizer Research Fellowships in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (two fellowships available)

• These research fellowships have been made possible by fellowships from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association and Pfizer, Inc.

The target audience for the research fellowships will be investigators interested in research in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The fellowships will be directed to supporting research into the pathophysiology of PAH, toward elucidating mechanistic pathways and identifying novel therapeutic targets or biomarkers in adult or pediatric pulmonary hypertension. The project should have potential applicability to human pulmonary vascular diseases. Applicants may request up to $50,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two. A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training. Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply. At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Investigators are also encouraged to connect to the PH medical community through membership in PH Clinicians and Researchers (PHA’s medical association) during the course of their research. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Merck Translational Research Grant in Asthma (1 grant available)

• Made possible by an educational grant from Merck

The target audience for the research grant will be investigators interested in translational research in asthma.  The research grant will support research testing novel ideas about the pathogenesis or treatment of asthma in patients with recognized asthma, or those at risk for asthma.  Applications for research applying recent advances in basic biological science to the study of asthma as it presents in people are especially sought.  Applicants may request up to $50,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS research program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators.  Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training.  Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply.  At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS Foundation Research Grant in Rare Diseases (one grant available)

• Fully funded by the ATS Foundation

One research grant will be awarded to a junior investigator to study rare diseases that may offer insight into the basic mechanisms that impact overall health. Applicants may request up to $25,000 in direct costs for one year to be used for salaries and/or supplies to conduct this research. A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training. Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply. At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS Foundation Tobacco-Dependence Research Fund Grant: For Research on Basic Mechanisms Involved in Tobacco Dependence (one grant available)

• Made possible by a generous grant from the ATS Foundation Tobacco-Dependence Research Fund

The grant will be targeted for research on basic mechanisms involved in tobacco dependence, including such areas as neurogenetics, pharmacology, neuropharmacology, cell receptors, airway sensory responses, and other basic science areas that enhance understanding of the basic mechanisms causing tobacco dependence.  The Principal Investigator must be a member of a division of pulmonary and critical care medicine. Trans-disciplinary, cross-department collaboration is encouraged.  Preference will be given to projects that, because of their novelty, require bridge funding before becoming competitive for other funding mechanisms. Applicants may request up to $50,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two. Applicants must meet the criteria listed below. A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training. At least one of the senior investigators must also be a member of the applicant’s pulmonary and critical care medicine division. Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply. At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS Unrestricted Research Grants (two grants available)

• Fully funded by the ATS Foundation

Research proposals in any field related to lung disease, including critical care and sleep will be considered.  Applicants may request up to $40,000/year for 2 years for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new faculty-level investigators to make the transition to careers as established investigators.  Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their training.  Both US and non-US based investigators are encouraged to apply.  At least one of the investigators must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded.  Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

* Special funding is available for qualified applicants in Illinois. For more information, please contact Liz Giancola, Manager, ATS Foundation Research Program at egiancola@thoracic.org.

Eligibility and Guidelines

Please read the eligibility information below before you start your application. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Giancola, Manager of the ATS Foundation Research Program at egiancola@thoracic.org.

A primary goal of the ATS Foundation Research Program is to enable new investigators the chance to make the transition to careers as established investigators. Applicants must have completed their primary research training (PhD or sub-specialty fellowship training) by July 1, 2011 and have a firm commitment from their home institution for a faculty position. Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, particularly for new investigators who are within 1 to 5 years of the completion of their research training.

At least one of the key personnel must be an ATS member at the time of application, and the principal investigator must be an ATS member at the time that the grant is awarded. Individuals may submit multiple letter of intent (LOI) applications, but ATS will extend at most one invitation to submit a full grant application to each applicant. 

Investigators who hold active career development grants (such as K award from the NIH) are eligible to receive ATS research funding, but the ATS project should differ scientifically from the already funded award.

At the present time, investigators in the following categories are not eligible to apply for
ATS grants:

• Investigators who currently hold an NIH R01 grant, a VA Merit Review Award, or a comparable competitive major individual research grant. Please note that this requirement applies only to the PI.
• US-based trainees who do not hold a Visa that spans the project period of the grant
• Current awardees of the ATS Foundation Research Program
• Individuals who have received 2 ATS grants

Successful applicants are usually early career investigators who are within 5 years of completion of their specialty training and within 10 years of their terminal degree.  These candidates do not hold an independent federal grant (e.g., NIH R01, DVA Merit Review, DOD grant) or equivalent, and are not a project leaders in multi-investigator NIH projects (e.g., PPG).

Review Process
The ATS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) will review the applications. The membership of the SAC is listed on the ATS Web site. Additional adhoc reviewers will be invited to participate, as needed. Funding decisions will be made on the basis of scientific merit, novelty, and responsiveness to the purpose of the specific grant program.

ATS Policy on Additional Grant Funding
Simultaneous submission of grants with scientific overlap is allowed, but if multiple applications are funded, then the applicant must notify the ATS within one month of formal notification of award. A subcommittee of SAC will assess degree of overlap. In case of significant scientific overlap the applicant will have to choose between the ATS research grant and the other grant. Budgetary overlap is not allowed.

Application Submission
All LOI applications must be submitted through the proposalCENTRAL web site at https://proposalcentral.altum.com/.  If you are a first time user, you must create a proposalCENTRAL user account by clicking on the REGISTER button on the left hand side of the screen and following the instructions. Once you have created an account, to start an application, you must log in to your account, click on the red Create New Proposal button, scroll down to the ATS Foundation Research Program Grants and click on apply now on the right side of the screen.