Call for Dalsemer Interstitial Research Award Grant

The Dalsemer Interstitial Research Award Grant offers an important research funding opportunity for junior investigators developing independent careers in lung health research. The award provides $50,000 per year for up to two years to support mentored research focused on the mechanisms and biology of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

According to the opportunity information provided, the application deadline is December 1, 2026. However, applicants should verify the applicable funding cycle and deadline with the American Lung Association before preparing a submission because the organization’s current awards page indicates that its 2026–2027 cycle is closed and that a new cycle is expected to be announced.

Background & Job Description

The American Lung Association Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award is designed as a mentored research award for early-career scientists who are progressing toward research independence. The program provides seed funding for researchers investigating the biological mechanisms underlying interstitial lung disease.

The American Lung Association Research Institute supports scientific research aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Its awards undergo scientific review, with proposals assessed for factors including scientific merit, technical feasibility, innovation and relevance to the organization’s lung-health mission.

The Dalsemer award is particularly relevant to researchers who have promising research ideas but are still building an independent research program. The funding can help investigators generate preliminary research results, strengthen their expertise in ILD and prepare for future career-development or independent research funding.

The official American Lung Association information describes the Dalsemer award as providing $50,000 annually for up to two years for mentored early-career researchers studying the mechanisms and biology of interstitial lung disease.

The research must be conducted through an eligible institution in the United States. The American Lung Association states that its research institutions must be nonprofit and located in the United States.

Tasks

Successful applicants will use the award to conduct an approved research project addressing important questions related to interstitial lung disease.

Depending on the proposed research, activities may include:

Investigating biological or molecular mechanisms associated with ILD.
Conducting laboratory, clinical or translational research relevant to interstitial lung disease.
Generating preliminary or seed data for future research.
Developing and testing research hypotheses related to lung disease.
Working under the guidance of an experienced research mentor.
Analyzing and interpreting research findings.
Preparing scientific reports, presentations and publications.
Developing an independent research direction in lung health.
Building the experience needed for future competitive research funding.

The award is intended to help researchers move toward greater independence rather than simply provide general research support. The American Lung Association describes the program as seed funding for mentored junior investigators progressing toward independence.

Qualifications

Education and Certification

Applicants should hold an eligible doctoral-level qualification appropriate to their research career. The supplied opportunity information identifies degrees such as PhD, DSc, MD and DO among potentially eligible qualifications, subject to the official award requirements.

The research should have a clear connection to interstitial lung disease, lung biology or another area directly relevant to the objectives of the award.

Applicants must also meet the applicable U.S. employment and institutional requirements. The American Lung Association states that applicants must certify that they are authorized to work in the United States, while the institutional Signing Official must certify that the applicant’s employment is expected to continue for the duration of the grant.

Experience

The award is intended for junior investigators and mentored early-career researchers who are working toward independence in lung-health research.

Applicants should demonstrate:

A developing research career in lung health or a related field.
A strong interest in interstitial lung disease research.
Appropriate research experience for the proposed project.
Access to an experienced mentor.
A suitable research environment.
A credible pathway toward research independence.

The mentor should have relevant experience in lung disease research and a demonstrated record of supporting developing researchers.

Applicants should also understand that the award is not designed for established investigators. The purpose is to provide early-stage support before researchers transition fully into independent research careers.

Additional Information

The award provides $50,000 per year for up to two years, potentially providing up to $100,000 over the full award period. However, second-year support is subject to satisfactory progress and the availability of American Lung Association funding.

The supplied opportunity information also indicates important budget restrictions. No more than 75% of the requested budget may be used for the awardee’s salary and fringe benefits, while no more than 30% of the total award budget may be used for permanent equipment.

Applicants should therefore prepare a realistic research budget that clearly connects proposed expenditures to the scientific objectives.

Competition can be significant. The American Lung Association reports that its awards are selected through rigorous peer review, with eligible applications assessed for scientific quality, feasibility, innovation and significance.

For context, the American Lung Association’s published recent funding statistics show that the Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award received 15 applications in one recent review cycle and funded one proposal, illustrating the competitive nature of the opportunity.

Application Preparation

Researchers interested in this opportunity should first confirm their eligibility, research institution, employment status and mentor arrangements. The proposed research should clearly explain the scientific question being addressed and why the work could contribute to understanding interstitial lung disease.

A strong proposal should demonstrate:

A clearly defined research question.
Strong scientific justification.
A feasible research methodology.
A suitable research environment.
Appropriate mentorship.
A realistic and compliant budget.
A clear pathway toward research independence.

Applications for American Lung Association awards are made through proposalCENTRAL, according to the organization’s awards information.

Because funding cycles and deadlines can change, prospective applicants should check the latest official American Lung Association award announcement before submitting an application. The current official awards page should be treated as the authoritative source for the active cycle and application requirements.

Conclusion

The Dalsemer Interstitial Research Award Grant can provide valuable early-career research support for scientists investigating the mechanisms and biology of interstitial lung disease. With funding of $50,000 per year for up to two years, the award is structured to help mentored junior investigators develop research programs and progress toward greater independence.

Researchers considering the opportunity should carefully review the official eligibility requirements, institutional conditions, budget restrictions and current application deadline before applying. The award is particularly suited to researchers with a strong ILD research proposal, an experienced mentor and a clear long-term goal of contributing to lung-health research.

Keywords: Dalsemer Interstitial Research Award, Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award, interstitial lung disease research grant, lung disease research funding, American Lung Association grants, $50,000 research grant, medical research grants 2026, biomedical research funding, early career researcher grants, junior investigator research grant, ILD research funding, lung health research grants, U.S. research grants, mentored research award, medical research funding 2026

APPLY NOW