Tom Stibolt, MD (left), and Dean Sheppard, MD, take to the dance floor at the ATS Foundation Research Benefit.

With the 20th Century Fox theme song’s crescendo of music as an introduction, the Foundation of the ATS kicked off its Fourth Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit on Saturday evening.

Such an inspiring beginning was fitting. The event marks 10 years of helping launch highly successful careers, and this year it raised more than $210,000.

This event brought a new format with music, dancing and food stations featuring culinary delights of the Bay city’s diverse neighborhoods. With this relaxed atmosphere as a backdrop, the more than 550 gathered at the Marriott Marquis to socialize with friends and honor grant awardees.

Since 2002, the Foundation has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to more than 100 junior investigators, launching the careers for a new generation of researchers.

Talmadge King Jr., MD (right), receives the Breathing for Life Award from James F. Donohue, MD, chair of the Foundation of the ATS.

“Our investigators have attracted nearly $90 million in subsequent grant funding, published hundreds of articles relevant to their ATS Foundation awards and have, in turn, become mentors,” said James F.  Donohue, MD, chair of the ATS Foundation Board of Trustees.

Devoted to recognizing the best and the brightest in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, the evening included the presentation of the Breathing for Life Award to Talmadge King Jr., MD.  A past president of ATS, Dr. King is the Julius R. Krevans distinguished professor of internal medicine and chair of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The award is the highest honor given by the ATS Foundation in recognition of philanthropy.

The Foundation of the ATS thanks the following companies for supporting the Fourth Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit:  $25,000 Benefactor: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;  $10,000 Patrons:  Actelion Pharmaceuticals U.S., Inc., Forest Laboratories, Inc., Genentech, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; $5,000 Sponsors: Sunovion, Varian Medical Systems.