The focus of these research grants is to support junior investigators interested in research that advances the knowledge and understanding of the three pillars of the ATS: pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. A primary goal of the ATS Research Program is to enable junior investigators the chance to make the transition to careers as established investigators.

The Research Program encourages international and domestic applications in basic, patient-oriented, and public health topics. In the area of public health, the Research Program is particularly interested in funding projects that will inform health policy decisions. These include projects that explore the quality and safety of a specific treatment and compare the effectiveness of different therapies. 

The ATS Research Program will award up to seventeen unrestricted research grants for $40,000 for one year for salaries, supplies, or a combination of these two. Indirect costs will not be paid to the sponsoring institution. The Research Program will award two grants to the top scores in each of the three society pillars: pulmonary, critical care, and sleep.* The remaining grants will be awarded to the top scores regardless of the category of submission.