Each year, the CHEST Foundation offers grants to worthy research candidates, generous community service volunteers, and distinguished scholars. More than 1,000 recipients worldwide have received more than $10 million in support and recognition of outstanding contributions to chest medicine.
In 2020, the Foundation awarded more than $900,000 in clinical research and community service grants, a 19% increase from 2019. This year the CHEST Foundation created new grants in critical care medicine, diversity, medical education, and COVID-19 research and relief.
The winners listed below are scientifically meritorious, with rigorous metrics to track their project’s progress, and have innovative, novel approaches to addressing their research topic.
The Foundation’s grants have made a difference in patients’ lives by aiding young investigators. Many of the supported projects have led to breakthroughs in the treatment and/or management of chest diseases and patient care.
To learn more about CHEST Foundation grants, please visit http://chestfoundation.org/grants.
2020 Research Grantees
The GlaxoSmithKline Distinguished Scholar in Respiratory Health
This grant is supported by an endowed fund from GlaxoSmithKline.
Deepa Gotur, MD, FCCP, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Cytokine Release in SARS COV-2 Viral Illness and Trends of Inflammasome Expression in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Manifestations and Management
CHEST Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation Research Grant in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
This grant is jointly supported by the CHEST Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation.
Paul Ellis, MBChB, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, Great Britain
Cardiovascular Outcomes and Phenotypes in Pulmonary Exacerbations of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Women’s Lung Health
This grant is supported by the CHEST Foundation.Shannon Kay, MD, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Sex-specific Gene Expression in Asthma
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
These grants are supported by AstraZeneca LP.
Davide Biondini, MD, PhD, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Role of the Immune Check Points (CTLA-4 and PD-1) in the Development or Evasion of Smoking-induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Andrew Gangemi, MD, Temple University – Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Are Sleep Health, Nicotine Metabolism, and Airway Inflammation Mechanisms for Differences in Lung Function Between African American and Non-Hispanic White Smokers? A Proof-of-Concept Examination
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Critical Care
This grant is supported by the CHEST Foundation.
Mounica Vallurupalli, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Evaluating the Impact of Clonal Hematopoiesis on Host Immune Response During Sepsis
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Lung Cancer
This grant is supported by the CHEST Foundation.
Stefanie Mason, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Implications of Longitudinal Muscle-mass Trajectories in Lung Cancer
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Venous Thromboembolism
This grant is supported by the CHEST Foundation.
Jansen Seheult, MD, MBBCh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Untangling the NET: Neutrophil Activation as the Driver of Venous Thromboembolism in Coronavirus Disease 2019
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Diseases
This grant is supported by Insmed Incorporated.
Bryan Garcia, MD, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Longitudinal Proteomic Endotyping of Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Infections
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Cystic Fibrosis
These grants are supported by Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Jeffrey Barry, MD, University California San Diego, San Diego, CA
Eosinophilia as a Biomarker for Worse Outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis
Kristina Montemayor, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
The Association of Sex Hormones and Respiratory Morbidity in Individuals With Cystic Fibrosis
John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP Research Grant in Sarcoidosis
This grant is in honor of John R. Addrizzo, MD, FCCP and is jointly supported by the Addrizzo family and the CHEST Foundation.
Changwan Ryu, MD, Yale School of Medicine, East Haven, CT
Extracellular Matrix Proteins as a Biomarker for Stage IV Sarcoidosis
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Severe Asthma
This grant is funded by AstraZeneca LP.
Isaretta Riley, MD, MPH, Duke University, Durham, NC
Coping With Asthma Through Life Management (CALM)
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Pulmonary Fibrosis
These grants are supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Genentech, Inc.
Sarah Beshay, MD, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
COPA Syndrome-associated Mutations in Lung Transplant Recipients for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Erica Farrand, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
The Future of Telehealth in Interstitial Lung Disease
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Sleep Medicine
These grants are funded by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tetyana Kendzerska, MD, PhD, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
The Role of Sleep and Circadian Disturbances in Cancer Development and Progression: A Historical Multicenter Clinical Cohort Study
Nancy Stewart, DO, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Improving COPD/OSA Overlap Syndrome Pre-discharge Care Delivery
CHEST Foundation and Association of Critical Care Medicine Program Directors Research Grant in Medical Education
This grant is jointly supported by the CHEST Foundation and APCCMPD.
Ilana Krumm, MD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
What’s Good About Soul Food? Discovering and Analyzing Elements of an ICU Team Group Discussion That Improve Provider Wellness
CHEST Foundation and American Thoracic Society Research Grant in Diversity
This grant is jointly supported by the CHEST Foundation and ATS.
Thomas Valley, MD, MSc, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Understanding Differences in Delivery of Care Processes for Respiratory Failure by Race/Ethnicity
CHEST Foundation Research Grant in COVID-19
This grant is supported by the CHEST Foundation.
David Furfaro, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
Subphenotypes, Inflammatory Profiles, and Antibody Response in COVID-19 ARDS
CHEST Foundation and American Thoracic Society Grant in COVID-19 and Diversity
This grant is jointly supported by the CHEST Foundation and ATS.
Peter Jackson, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tuberculosis Care in Uganda
2020 Community Service Grantees
CHEST Foundation Community Service Grant Honoring D. Robert McCaffree, MD, Master FCCP
These grants are supported by the CHEST Foundation.
Ivan Nemorin, MBA, MS, RRT, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL
Healthier Homes for Children–Community Asthma Prevention Program
Joseph Huang, MD, New York, NY
East Africa Training Initiative (EATI)
Aninda Das, MD, MBBS, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Screening for Childhood Tuberculosis in Children 0–4 Years of Age With Moderate to Severe Malnutrition in a Rural District of West Bengal, India
Trishual Siddaharthan, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Establishing a Pulmonary and Critical Care Training Program in Uganda
Marina Lima, MD, MSc, Brazilian Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Asmaland: The First Gamified Pediatric Asthma Educational Program in Portuguese
Roberta Kato, MD, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Lung Power
CHEST Foundation awards microgrants to communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation created the COVID-19 Community-based Grant to provide funding to those looking to make a difference in their communities during the pandemic.
With so many people affected by the pandemic, the Foundation wanted to make a tangible impact on the lives of people who need it most. In June, the CHEST Foundation awarded $60,000 to patient service groups that provide services to those living with chronic lung disease. These initiatives aim to provide at-risk individuals and caregivers with supplies and groceries, needed technology to continue hosting support group meetings in local communities, and expedited training and the means to get caregivers from New York City to other hard-hit areas of the country. The response and need for this kind of funding was so great that the Foundation opted to continue supporting these initiatives through the Fall as well.
Congratulations to those individuals who made an impact within their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eve Bogan, Atlanta, GA
COVID-19 Response for Individuals With Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Community Support & Solutions, Inc.
Katherine Brown, Tinley Park, IL
Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) Homes Basic Needs Funding, St. Coletta’s of Illinois
Rachel Callender, Houston, TX
Houston Methodist Hospital
Brian Carlin, MD, FCCP, Pittsburgh, PA
Pulmonary Chat: A Focus on COVID-19, Right2Breathe
Dot Delarosa, San Antonio, TX
San Antonio Pulmonary Fibrosis Support
Amrita Dosanjh, San Diego, CAMD Pulmonary Function Testing for Children and Young Adults Following COVID-19 Infection
Aaron Douen, Brooklyn, NY
MD 3D Printed N95 Face Masks and Filters, Coney Island Hospital
Elizabeth Emery, New York, NY
Urgently Deploying Volunteer Physicians to the Frontlines of the NYC COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Sophia Esteves-Frye, San Antonio, TX
Supporting the SA Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group
Marcela Gieminani, Vienna, VA
COVID-19: Educational Resources for Hispanic Families, Allergy & Asthma Network, Mothers of Asthmatics
Chanda Holsey, DrPh, Silver Spring, MD
National Medical Association AAI Section Addresses COVID-19 in the Community
Ebtesam Islam, MD, PhD, FCCP, Lubbock, TX
West Texas 3D COVID-19 Relief Consortium
Melanie Jagneaux, Houston, TX
COVID-19 Incident Command Center: Baylor Support Task Force
Heather Kagel, Dallas, TX
Discharge Kits for Lung Transplant Patients During COVID-19
Chris Landon, MD, FCCP, Ventura, CA
COVID Connect, Landon Pediatric Foundation
Eric Luk, MD, Jefferson, LA
Addressing Food Insecurity of Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Crisis, Tom and Gayle Benson Cancer Center
Tricia Pendergrast, Chicago, IL
GetMePPE Chicago – Support for Healthcare Professionals in the Community
Kate Phipps, San Antonio, TX
Project MEND
Jovana Placido, San Antonio, TX
Scleroderma Patients ILD Resources Project
Mary Schroth, MD, FCCP, Chicago, IL
COVID-19 Information Center for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Cure SMA
Munish Sharma, MD, Corpus Christi, TX
Corpus Christi Medical Center/It’s Your Life Foundation
Vicki Thornley, Chicago, IL
Nursing Readiness in the Face of COVID-19
Joy Trotti, Atlanta, GA
Support for Parents of Medically Fragile Children During COVID-19 Crisis, Families of Children Under Stress, Inc.
Tina Young, Tampa, FL
Back To School Health Clinics, Project Link, Inc.