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Lung Cancer Discovery Award

American Lung Association

The American Lung Association nationwide research program is building on over 120 years of success as we continue to invest in the brightest, pioneering minds with potential to drive innovation, discover the unknown, and improve the lives of those living with lung cancer.

This opportunity is intended to promote the development of innovative concepts and approaches, which will ultimately significantly improve the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer. The approach might be through basic biology, including host and tumor genetics, or focus on screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Lung Cancer Discovery Award isfor highly meritorious research projects with the potential to:

• Significantly improve and transform diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms;

• Improve understanding of lung cancer in neversmokers;

• Investigate EGFR-driven or other genetic forms oflung cancer;

• Develop and implement novelscreening and prevention strategies;

• Fosterinnovation using novel approaches;

• Accelerate progress in lung cancer research that improves patient care and helpssave lives

Funding Opportunity

The Lung Cancer Discovery Award is for $100,000 per year for up to two years. No more than 75% of the requested budget may be used for an awardee's salary or fringe benefits and no more than 30% of the total award budget may be used to fund the purchase of permanent equipment. Grant funds may also be used for the salary and fringe benefit costs of personnel other than the Applicant.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to lung health ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the most important predictor.

Competitive projects should directly address:

Lung disease
Lung cancer
Asthma
COPD
Interstitial lung disease
Pulmonary fibrosis
Respiratory infections
Respiratory pathogens
Allergic respiratory disease
Environmental lung health
Indoor air quality
Lung disease prevention
Pulmonary diagnostics and therapeutics

ALA supports basic, clinical, translational, behavioral, and environmental research as long as it advances its lung-health mission.

2. Potential impact on lung health ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ALA explicitly evaluates the impact of the research on lung health.

A strong proposal should clearly explain how the research could:

Prevent lung disease
Improve diagnosis
Improve treatment
Reduce disease progression
Reduce mortality
Improve quality of life
Reduce exacerbations
Improve respiratory health

For the Innovation Award, reviewers specifically consider the likelihood that the applicant will make significant contributions to the field.

3. Scientific merit ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scientific merit is an explicit peer-review criterion.

The proposal should have:

A significant research question
Strong scientific rationale
Clear hypothesis
Well-defined aims
Appropriate methodology
Meaningful expected outcomes
Strong scientific justification

ALA funds only applications judged to be of the highest quality, rather than maintaining a predetermined number of awards for each mechanism.

4. Innovation and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Innovation is explicitly evaluated.

Competitive projects should introduce:

Novel hypotheses
New disease mechanisms
Innovative technologies
New therapeutic strategies
Novel diagnostic approaches
New biomarkers
Innovative clinical approaches
New environmental/public-health interventions

ALA's current research program describes its goal as investing in trailblazing research, novel ideas, and innovative approaches.

5. Technical feasibility and rigorous methodology ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A highly innovative project will not be competitive if reviewers doubt that it can be completed.

Strong proposals should demonstrate:

Appropriate study design
Appropriate controls
Statistical rigor
Adequate sample size
Appropriate endpoints
Feasible recruitment
Appropriate laboratory/clinical methods
Realistic timeline
Appropriate resources

ALA explicitly lists technical feasibility among its peer-review criteria.

6. Strong investigator qualifications ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The investigator's research record is particularly important for ALA's independent-investigator awards.

Reviewers consider:

Education
Experience
Publication record
Faculty status
Research appointment
Previous funding
Ability to conduct the proposed research

For the Innovation Award, for example, the applicant must have a doctoral degree, a qualifying faculty/professional appointment, demonstrated institutional commitment, and a publication record showing significant scientific contributions.

7. Clear career-development potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ALA has a strong emphasis on developing the next generation of lung-health scientists. Its portfolio includes awards specifically for early-career researchers.

The Catalyst Award, for example, is a mentored award intended for early-career scientists moving toward research independence.

For such applicants, a strong proposal should show:

Appropriate mentor
Research training
Career-development objectives
Protected research time
Path toward independence
Future external funding plans

8. Translational and clinical relevance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ALA supports research across the basic → translational → clinical spectrum.

A particularly compelling project establishes:

Basic discovery → validation → clinical/behavioral application → improved lung health

The 2026–2027 program, for example, includes research testing whether indoor-air purification can improve lung function, symptoms, and quality of life in people with COPD, illustrating the importance of connecting research to meaningful patient outcomes.

9. Prevention and health-equity potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ALA's research policy specifically supports research addressing disparities in lung-disease morbidity and mortality, including among people of color, low-income populations, and other underserved groups.

Projects may therefore be strengthened when they address:

Environmental exposure disparities
Unequal access to respiratory care
Tobacco-related disparities
Air-pollution exposure
Underserved populations
Rural respiratory health
Social determinants of lung disease

Specialties

Cancer

Pulmonology

Oncology

Eligibility Requirements

Employment Certification Requirement As part of the application, all applicants must certify that they are authorized to work in the United States. In addition, the institutional Signing Official, defined as the individual authorized to submit grant applications and make institutional commitments, must certify that the applicant’s employment is expected to continue for the full duration of the grant period.

Education and Experience

At the time of LOI, an applicant must hold a doctoral degree, have a full-time faculty appointment or professional appointment at an academic institution (or equivalent in research institutions not formally associated with a university), and have completed a training fellowship. Applicants may be at any level of research experience; must be independent, self-directed researchers for whom their institution must provide space and other resources customary for independent investigators. The application must convey the commitment of the institution to the applicant and the proposed research activities for the duration of the grant.

Institution The research institution must be owned and operated exclusively for scientific and education purposes, non- profit and located in the United States. Institutions eligible to participate include Nonprofit colleges or universities and domestic nonprofit scientific and research institutions.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: American Lung Association

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601

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