2012 ATS Partner and Unrestricted Grants

2012 ATS Foundation Research Program

Instructions for submission of letters of Intent (LOI)

Letter of Intent (LOI) Applications must be submitted through Foundant Technologies on or before
Tuesday April 10, 2012

Please note that after you submit your application it will be reviewed by ATS staff. If there are any problems or if these guidelines have not been followed, your application will be un-submitted. ATS staff will contact you within 3 business days to confirm the receipt of your application.  Please make sure that you check your email after you submit your application so that any outstanding issues may be addressed as quickly as possible. 

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

ATS Letter of Intent Submission Form
Potential applicants should submit a letter of intent using the LOI application that is available through the Foundant website. The letters of intent will be used to narrow the number of applicants.  Please select the ATS 2012 Grant Portfolio option unless you are interested in applying for a MECOR Research Award.

In order to be able to apply, you need to first register.  Click on Create New Account and follow the links for the 2012 ATS Research Program.  Follow the instructions and complete your application. 

Please contact Alyssa Chase, Senior Manager, ATS Foundation Research Program at 212-315-8696 or achase@thoracic.org with any questions related to requirements and eligibility or for help troubleshooting with the Foundant application website.

Timeline for 2012 ATS Research Grants
(Funding to begin in October 2012)

2012 Research Program Portfolio (funding to begin in October 2012)

ATS Grant Opportunities

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAILING LIST, CLICK HERE.

ATS/chILD Foundation/chILD Foundation-UK Research Grant (one grant available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation, chILD Foundation, and chILD Lung Foundation-UK

One research grant will be awarded with a focus on Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia of Infancy (NEHI). The successful research grant will have a high probability of advancing the understanding of neuroendocrine cell biology or disease mechanisms, improving diagnosis, or finding new treatment approaches for this enigmatic pediatric lung disease.

Applicants may request up to $25,000/year for 2 years or $50,000 for 1 year for salaries, supplies or a combination of these two.  This grant is intended for early-career investigators, but consideration will also be given to more experienced researchers.  Partnerships between junior and senior investigators are strongly encouraged, and international collaborations are welcome. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution.

ATS/Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Research Grant
(one grant available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The target audience for these research grants will be US-based AND INTERNATIONAL 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 investigators. 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/Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago/EFFORTS Research Grant
(one grant available)

• Co-funded by the ATS Foundation, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, and Emphysema Fighting for Our Right to Survive

The target audience for these research grants will be Illinois-based investigators interested in research that is relevant to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The focus of the research grants will be programs that have a high likelihood to advance the understanding of COPD. Applications are encouraged from new faculty members who have a strong link with one or more senior investigator. The Principal Investigator must hold a faculty position at an institution in Illinois. 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 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.  This grant is NOT intended to support studies that examine the adverse consequences of cigarette smoking.  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 (three grants available) - New award added February 13th

• Fully funded by the ATS Foundation

Research proposals in any field related to lung disease for which no ATS partner grant is offered will be considered.  Proposals seeking to further the understanding of sleep and critical care (in the context of lung disease) are welcome.  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.

Note for Oregon-Based Investigators

The ATS has partnered with the American Lung Association of Oregon to fund one grant for $50,000 per year for 2 years. This award is restricted to individuals working at Oregon based institutions, and investigators must also meet all eligibility criteria listed below. To be considered, applicants are encouraged to submit letters of intent for NEHI, tobacco dependence, and unrestricted grants. The deadline for Oregon-based applications is April 10.

ELIGIBILITY AND GUIDELINES

Please read the eligibility information below before you start your application. If you have any questions, please contact Alyssa Chase, Senior Manager of the ATS Foundation Research Program at achase@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, 2012 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.

Consistent with our intention to support early career investigators, applicants shall not be
over 12 years beyond their doctoral degree or equivalent (i.e., MD, PhD, DVM).*

Applicants shall not be the recipients of relatively large national awards defined as an
NIH R01, Veterans Affairs Grant, Department of Defense Grant or equivalent awards
with funding of ≥ $100,000 per year for at least 2 years from a single independent (nonmentored) grant at any time.*

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:

• 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

* Applicants for the ATS/chILD Foundation/chILD Foundation-UK Research Grant may apply even if they do not meet the starred eligibility requirements.

Review Process
The ATS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) will review the applications. The membership of the SAC is listed on the ATS Website. 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.