Meet the 2026 Awardee: Seyed J. Moghaddam, MD, ATSF
Seyed Javad Moghaddam, MD, ATSF, is a tenured Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Immunology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is widely recognized for his contributions to lung tumor immunobiology, leading a basic and translational research program that integrates cancer immunology, molecular and cellular biology, and transgenic animal models. His laboratory has developed human-relevant models of airway inflammation, COPD, and lung cancer, and his seminal work on pro-tumor cytokine networks has earned numerous awards and high-impact publications. His research provides highly translational approaches for the prevention of lung cancer in high-risk individuals, including smokers with and without COPD, as well as in patients with early or advanced lung cancer diagnosis.
An active member of the American Thoracic Society since 2006, Dr. Moghaddam has served in multiple leadership roles within the Assembly on Thoracic Oncology, including the Program Committee and Nominating Committee, and as representative to the PhD & Basic/Translational Scientists Working Group. He received the 2017 Early Career Achievement Award in Thoracic Oncology, was named an ATS Fellow in 2022, and has been a dedicated mentor in the ATS Mentor–Mentee Program since 2018.
He has also been presenting at, chairing, and moderating numerous major and mini-symposia and poster sessions at ATS International Conferences. Most recently, he chaired the ATS Thoracic Oncology project “Pre-malignant Progression in the Lung: Knowledge Gaps and Novel Opportunities for Interception of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,” which led to the first ATS Basic Science Research Statement in Thoracic Oncology, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine last year.
Description
This award will be given to an individual with a clear commitment to the Thoracic Oncology Assembly and to the ATS, in the form of Assembly participation (committees, mentoring, workshops, document development, etc.), leadership, and promoting diversity. This award will be given to an individual who has demonstrated significant and meaningful contributions to the thoracic oncology field in the area(s) of research, clinical care, teaching, mentoring, promoting diversity, advocacy, and/or service.
Nominees must be a primary TOA member. We encourage nominations of diverse nominees in all dimensions, including gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, geographic residence, country, area of focus and primary occupation. The nomination package must include a 1-page letter from a member of the assembly describing the candidate’s contributions (scientific and/or Assembly contributions) and why the award is merited. The candidate’s curriculum vitae must also be included with the nomination packet.
Awardees will be recognized with a framed certificate at the annual TO Membership Meeting during the ATS International Conference.
Criteria
- Must be at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level (or at an equivalent rank in a non-academic institution) and > 10 years from terminal doctoral degree (PhDs) or > 10 years from completion of medical fellowship training (MDs or MD/PhDs).
- Must be a TOA primary member
- Must not have received a similar Mid-Career Achievement award from TOA or another ATS Assembly
Scoring
Applicants are scored on the following criteria using a 1-5 rating system (5 = best) across the following categories:
- Scientific Contributions/ Products
- Leadership in Assembly and ATS Activities (administrative, committees, workshop, document development, promoting diversity)
- Teaching/ Mentoring/ Educational Contributions