Lung Association Awards Two Indiana Researchers Grants to Study New Treatments for Lung Disease

Two Indiana University doctors have been awarded grants from the American Lung Association Research Institute for their research projects. Marta Gomes, PhD was awarded the Catalyst Award and Catherine Rufatto Sears, MD was awarded the Lung Cancer Discovery Award.

Dr. Gomes’ project will study whether the loss of a protein called WWOX contributes to increased cell growth and metabolic changes in the arteries of the lungs which can lead to Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare progressive condition. The absence of WWOX is linked to diseases such as cancer and metabolic disorders. The study hopes to understand the role of WWOX in PAH and define it as a target for therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Sears’ project focuses on learning how lung cancer develops in people with COPD. Her team will study how DNA repair deficiency impacts lung cells in response to cigarette smoke, leading to the development of lung cancer and COPD. They hope to understand the interaction between a tumor and local lung environment, as well as the development of genome alterations in COPD and lung cancer; and that this will lead to a better understanding of how lung cancer develops in patients with COPD.

In the past year, the American Lung Association Research Institute has announced a total research investment of $22 million, making it one of the largest programs in the country focused on lung health. The Lung Association funded 139 research grants, including the Airways Clinical Research Centers (ACRC), and strategic research partnerships focused on finding ways to identify, treat and cure lung disease.

“In 2024, the American Lung Association is celebrating 120 years of funding lifesaving research. Lung Association researchers have achieved major milestones, including helping end the devastation of tuberculosis in this country, saving millions of lives of premature babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), supporting research on COVID-19 and much more,” said Tanya Husain, Executive Director at the Lung Association. “Here in Indiana, lung research is critical because more than one million Hoosiers are living with lung disease. We are honored to welcome Dr. Gomes and Dr. Sears to the elite American Lung Association Research Institute team.”

Awards were given different categories addressing many aspects of lung disease; American Lung Association/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, American Lung Association/ATS/CHEST Foundation Respiratory Health Equity Research Award, Catalyst Award, Emerging Respiratory Diseases (formerly, COVID-19 Respiratory Virus Research Award), Public Health & Public Policy Research Award, Hastings Innovation Award for Interstitial Lung Disease, Dalsemer Interstitial Lung Disease Award, Innovation Award, and the Lung Cancer Discovery Award.

Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific peer review and awardees represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues related to lung health.

The Lung Association is currently accepting applications for its 2025-2026 research awards and grants cycle. For more information about the active research funding opportunities, visit Lung.org/awards. For more information about the new grant awardees and the entire American Lung Association Research Team, visit Lung.org/research-team.

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