Catalyst Award

The American Lung Association Nationwide Research Program builds on more than 120 years of work supporting research intended to improve the lives of people living with lung disease. Through the Catalyst Award, the American Lung Association supports outstanding investigators who are progressing toward research independence and conducting research into the mechanisms of lung disease and general lung biology. Preference is given to projects that are novel and innovative in design or approach, use modern technologies, incorporate a multidisciplinary collaborative training plan, and clearly explain how the proposed research and mentoring activities will advance the applicant toward an independent research career. Applicants should be on track for a career in lung health research and work with a mentor who has a demonstrated history of lung disease research and mentorship. The Catalyst Award provides $50,000 per year for up to two years, for a potential maximum award of $100,000. Awards are made in one-year increments, and second-year funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress and availability of funds. No more than 75 percent of the requested budget may be used for the awardee's salary and fringe benefits, while no more than 30 percent of the total award budget may be used for permanent equipment. Grant funds may support salary and fringe benefit costs for personnel other than the applicant. Up to $2,500 per year may be used for travel or publication costs directly related to the American Lung Association-funded project. Indirect costs are not allowed. Funds may not be used for furniture, computers, facility construction or renovation, honoraria, membership dues, tuition, textbooks or periodicals, or secretarial support. The institutional salary limitation for awardees is $212,000, and salary support for Intramural NIH funded scientists is not permitted. At application, an applicant must hold a relevant doctoral degree, such as a PhD, DSc, MD, or DO, and be affiliated with a recognized academic or other not-for-profit institution. Postdoctoral Fellows and Medical Fellows seeking at least two years of mentored research training are eligible. MD or DO applicants must have completed two years of research training after receiving their terminal degree before the award begins. Medical residents, individuals presently enrolled in degree programs, and established investigators are ineligible. Indicators of established-investigator status include an associate professor or professor rank, established-investigator awards such as an NIH R01 or Veterans Administration Merit Review award, or a national reputation as an investigator. The research institution must be a nonprofit organization located in the United States, owned and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes. Eligible institutions include nonprofit colleges and universities and domestic nonprofit scientific and research institutions. Applicants must certify authorization to work in the United States, and the institutional Signing Official must certify that employment is expected to continue throughout the grant period. A Letter of Intent is mandatory and must be submitted through ProposalCentral by September 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. The LOI requires a one-page letter describing the rationale and significance, specific aims and hypotheses, and overall experimental approach, along with the applicant's biographical sketch and proposed budget. Only applicants invited following LOI review may submit a full proposal. Full applications are also processed through ProposalCentral and are due December 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. The full application includes applicant and institutional information, personnel information and biographical sketches, three letters of recommendation including a mentor letter, application questions addressing mission significance and progression toward independence, project summaries, scientific and research categories, resources and facilities, detailed budget information and justification, other support, assurances, publications, and the research plan and supporting documents. A separate Department Head Statement is also required, resulting in four letters in total. Application attachments must be uploaded as PDF files. Eligible applications undergo rigorous external peer review. Review considers the importance and significance of the proposed research to lung health, innovation, scientific rigor and feasibility, study design and analysis, the applicant's background and potential for a continuing career in lung health research, the quality of the mentorship plan and mentor commitment, the contribution of the proposed activities toward research independence, the adequacy of the research environment and institutional resources, and evidence of institutional commitment. The Department Chair or equivalent letter demonstrating institutional commitment is also considered. Applicants should ensure that the research plan addresses significance, innovation, and approach and that the proposed work is achievable within the award period. The American Lung Association will not fund work that duplicates support from other funding agencies, and budgetary overlap is prohibited. The 2026 application cycle opens with acceptance of LOIs through ProposalCentral beginning August 5, 2026. LOIs are due September 18, 2026, and LOI notifications are scheduled for October 23, 2026. Invited full applications are due December 1, 2026. Peer review takes place from January through April, with outcome notifications scheduled for June 2027. The research term begins July 1, 2027 and runs through June 30, 2029, subject to the second-year progress requirement. Applicants are limited to one American Lung Association Awards and Grant application per annual cycle, and an applicant may receive the Catalyst Award only once. A previously reviewed and unfunded application may be resubmitted only one additional time. All funded research must satisfy applicable requirements for human subjects, animals, biohazards, financial conflicts of interest, and other research assurances. When applicable, IRB and IACUC approvals must be provided before the award begins, and award payments will not be issued until required approvals have been supplied. Applicants from institutions without an IACUC or AAALAC accreditation are not eligible when vertebrate-animal research is involved. The American Lung Association does not provide research or other funding to investigators who have received direct funding or funding from agencies of the tobacco or e-cigarette industry. Limited administrative use of artificial intelligence tools is permitted, but applicants must disclose the tools used and their purpose and remain responsible for originality, accuracy, and scientific integrity. Electronic application questions may be directed to ProposalCentral at pcsupport@altum.com, and ProposalCentral customer service is available at 1-800-875-2562.

Emphasize significance to lung health, innovation, scientific rigor and feasibility, applicant potential, a strong mentorship plan, progression toward research independence, institutional resources, and documented institutional commitment. Follow page and formatting requirements, enter Other Support manually, avoid budgetary overlap, secure all required letters, validate the application before submission, and provide applicable IRB/IACUC approvals before the award begins.