Boston Leads Country in Lung Health Research

Today, the American Lung Association in Massachusetts announced that it made a significant investment in lung health research in Boston by awarding 12 researchers grants to study lung health. Out of 130 total grants awarded across the U.S., Boston received more grants than any other city. The organization awarded Boston researchers a total of $800,000 in grants for up to two years. (Downloadable images of researchers here). 

In total, the American Lung Association Research Institute announced a $22 million investment in new research grants, clinical research and strategic partnerships to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of lung disease. Boston researchers received grants to investigate pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, lung cancer, Medicaid policies, respiratory viruses and more. 

“We are proud to welcome these researchers to the American Lung Association’s elite team to help advance our mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. More than 35 million Americans live with lung disease, and as we face new challenges with cuts to federal funding and changes in research priorities, lung health research is more important than ever,” said Ashley Carrier, Executive Director at the Lung Association in Massachusetts. “We are proud to fund these incredible local researchers to help us realize our vision of a world free of lung disease.” 

Research grants awarded in Boston include:  

• Stephen Mein, MD from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center received the Public Health & Public Policy Research Award for their project, “Will Cutting Medicare Drug Costs Help Black and Hispanic Adults to Obtain and Use Inhalers?” 

• Novalia Pishesha, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital received the Allergic Respiratory Disease Research Award for their project, “Using Proteins Derived From Alpacas to Reduce Allergic Reactions in Asthma.” 

• Ruobing Wang, MD from Boston Children's Hospital received the Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award for their project, “Identifying New Ways to Treat Viral Infections in People With Cystic Fibrosis.” 

• Ahmed A. Raslan, PhD from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine received the Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award for their project, “Targeting Lung Capillary Endothelial Cells to Halt the Progression of Lung Fibrosis.” 

• Shawn Lyons, PhD from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine received the Emerging Respiratory Pathogen Award for their project, “Exploiting Weak Spot in How Viruses Operate to Combat Severe Respiratory Infections.” 

• Liangliang Hao, PhD from Boston University received the Innovation Award for their project, “Developing Innovative Early Detection Test for IPF.” 

• Ignaty Leshchiner, PhD from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine received the Innovation Award for their project, “Predicting When Lung Cancer Will Return.” 

• Luciana Padua Tavares, PhD from Brigham and Women's Hospital received the Catalyst Award for their project, “How Neutrophils Can Play Crucial Role in Lung Healing in ARDS.” 

• Hung Nguyen, PhD from Brigham and Women's Hospital received the Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award for their project, “How T Lymphocyte Promotes Fibrosis in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.” 

• Edy Kim, MD, PhD from Brigham and Women's Hospital received the Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease for their project, “Targeting LIFR Molecule That Activates Fibroblasts to Improve Lung Fibrosis.” 

• Jaeyul Lee, PhD from Massachusetts General Hospital received the Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award for their project, “Finding a New Way to Predict How Early IPF Progresses in Patients.” 

• Dawei Sun, PhD from Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard received the Catalyst Award for their project, “Uncovering the Link Between ARDS and Impaired Regeneration of Alveoli.” 

For the 2025–2026 funding cycle, the American Lung Association awarded grants through a range of programs addressing many aspects of lung health, including: American Lung Association/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, American Lung Association/ATS/CHEST Foundation Respiratory Health Equity Research Award, Catalyst Award, Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Award, Public Health & Public Policy Research Award, Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease, Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award, Innovation Award, Indoor Air Award, and Lung Cancer Discovery Award. 

Each funded project undergoes a rigorous scientific peer-review process, ensuring that only the most promising, innovative and impactful research receives support. In addition to funding individual researchers, the American Lung Association Research Institute also supports the Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) Network, the nation’s largest nonprofit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research. 

The American Lung Association is currently accepting applications for its 2026–2027 research awards and grants cycle. For details about current funding opportunities, visit Lung.org/awards. To learn more about the newly funded researchers and the full American Lung Association Research Team, visit Lung.org/research-team. 

Media Resources 

• Downloadable images of researchers 

• Media b-roll is available here: Broll: ALA Research Team.mp4 | Powered by Box 

• American Lung Association logos and other media resources are available at Lung.org/media