NEW YORK, NY— June 18, 2025 —The American Thoracic Society Research Program has announced that four researchers have been awarded early-career grants to support research advancing pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The grants, which are generously sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, total $400,000.
These awards support early-career investigators conducting research aimed at understanding the pathways and pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular disease.
2025 Early Career Investigator Award in Pulmonary Vascular Disease
The following researchers received one-year grants of $100,000 each:
- Gabriel Altit, MD, of McGill University Health Centre – Research Institute / Montreal Children’s Hospital, for “NORDIC-FU: Neonatal Outcomes Related to Early Discovery of Impaired Cardiac Function at Follow-Up.”
- John Park, MD, PhD, of The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles, for “Emerging Role of LOXL2 in Right Heart Failure due to Pulmonary Hypertension: Novel Druggable Target.”
- Michael Smith, MD, of The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, for “Adaptive Right Ventricular Development in Congenital Heart Disease-Pulmonary Hypertension.”
- Bingquiang Wen, PhD, of The Regents of the University of Arizona, for “Identify Mouse Lung Endothelial Cell Specific DNA Regulatory Regions in the Foxf1 Enhancer.”
“The American Thoracic Society is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the ATS Early Career Investigator Award in Pulmonary and Vascular Disease,” said Kamran Atabai, MD, chair of the ATS Scientific Grant Review Committee. “These promising investigators represent the future of scientific discovery, and we are committed to supporting their growth and success.”
The Research Program has aligned its grant cycle with the calendar year and is accepting applications for partner grants until July 1, 2025.
The next grant cycle will open in January 2026. Visit our website for more information.
Fund future respiratory health breakthroughs by donating to the ATS Research Program.
About the ATS Research Program
Since 2004, the ATS Research Program's investment of more than $25M in more than 400 early career researchers has leveraged millions in NIH funding and breakthroughs in respiratory medicine. Investing in early career investigators is crucial for driving advancements in research and transforming patient care. The ATS also emphasizes the importance of cultivating partnerships in business, government, and academia to further support these developments.
About the American Thoracic Society Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Core activities of the Society’s more than 16,000 members are focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care. Key areas of member focus include developing clinical practice guidelines, hosting the annual International Conference, publishing four peer-reviewed journals, advocating for improved respiratory health globally, and developing an array of patient education and career development resources.
Visit our website to learn more.