ATS 2014 attendees gathered for a special evening reception Saturday when the ATS Foundation kicked off its Sixth Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit.

The event marks 10 years of helping launch highly successful careers, and this year the Foundation raised $380,000. Using the format originally introduced in 2012 with music, dancing, and food stations, this year’s event served up culinary delights of San Diego set against a relaxed atmosphere as a backdrop. More than 500 attendees gathered at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego to socialize with friends, honor grant awardees, and recognize William W. Busse, MD, the recipient of the 2014 Breathing for Life Award.

Since 2004, the Foundation has awarded $11 million in grants to more than 183 junior investigators, launching the careers of a new generation of researchers.

“Our investigators have attracted more than $143 million in subsequent grant funding, published hundreds of articles relevant to their ATS Foundation awards and have, in turn, become mentors,” says James F. Donohue, MD, chair of the ATS Foundation Board of Trustees.

In 2014, the Foundation will fund 22 awards in total. Three are unrestricted research awards in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, seven are one-year recognition awards for talented early-stage investigators, seven are research partner awards, and five are for young investigators.

“Through the funds raised yesterday, we hope to continue to help protect struggling young investigators who represent the future of our profession,” Dr. Donohue says.

Devoted to recognizing the best and the brightest in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, the Foundation presented the 2014 Breathing for Life Award to Dr. Busse. This award is the highest honor given by the ATS Foundation in recognition of philanthropy.

Dr. Busse’s impassioned advocacy of early stage researchers and generosity toward the ATS Foundation Research Program has given talented young investigators in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine a lifeline at crucial moments in their careers.

Dr. Busse’s relationship with the ATS began in 1976 when it awarded him a two-year research grant to help kick-start his asthma laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since then, he has become a noted expert in the field and has gained recognition for his breakthrough research in eosinophilic inflammation and rhinovirus-induced asthma with more than 400 papers to his credit.

The ATS Foundation thanks the many individuals and 32 medical institutions that have stepped forward to support the Research Program during a difficult financial climate for research.

The ATS Foundation thanks Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for support at the Platinum Level; AstraZeneca LP, Genentech-Novartis, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for support at the Gold Level; Forest Laboratories, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., InterMune, Inc., and TEVA Respiratory for support at the Silver Level; and Bayer HealthCare, MEDA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Merck at the Bronze Level.

For the most up-to-date list of generous corporate supporters of the ATS Foundation.