Minnesota Researcher Receives Innovation Award to Study Lifesaving Lung Disease Therapies

Kurt Prins, MD, PhD, from the University of Minnesota, was awarded a $75,000 grant from the American Lung Association to study therapies targeting right heart dysfunction and improve outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. He joins a cohort of researchers receiving a total of $12.6 million in over 100 grants in increased research funding from the organization. 

Right heart dysfunction is the leading cause of death in pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, there are currently no therapies that can improve right heart function.

“Prins’ research could have real-world effects of improving lung disease therapies and saving lives,” said Jill Heins-Nesvold, National Senior Director of Health Systems Improvement and Indoor Air Quality at the Lung Association. “Discovering advancements in treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients suffering from right heart dysfunction is an ambitious and laudable pursuit.”

For the Lung Association’s 2021-2022 research grant cycle, Prins received the Innovation Award. This award includes $75,000 per year for up to two years, totaling $150,000. 

Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through a rigorous review committee and represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues to help reduce the burden of lung disease. 

Meet the full Lung Association research team, including current awardees and their full abstracts at Lung.org/research-team.