Lung Health Research Grants
Breathe PA's Lung Health Research Grants
Since 1904, Breathe PA has empowered western Pennsylvanians to breathe better and live healthier through education and awareness of lung health in our community. Breathe PA serves thousands of adults and children annually with free or minimal cost programs and services. Research funding is yet another service commitment to our community.
Breathe PA provides grant funding for research projects that support our mission to help western Pennsylvanians breathe better and live healthier. We issue annual request for proposals (RFPs) for the purpose of conducting research leading to improved care and outcomes for patients with lung disease. Projects are funded at or between $10,000 and $50,000.
The current application period is closed. Please check back in early 2027 for the next RFP.
If you would like more information, please contact Casey Monroe, Executive Director, at cmonroe@breathepa.org.
2026 - 2027 Awardees
Author: Dr. Jinming Zhao
Title: Vitamin E as a Novel Nutraceutical for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral-Induced Asthma Exacerbations
Summary: Respiratory infections, particularly those caused by the common cold virus (rhinovirus (RV)), are major triggers of asthma attacks or exacerbations, especially in children. Vitamin E, an essential nutrient with anti-oxidant properties, has been shown to reduce airway mucus and inflammation in asthma. However, whether it impacts asthma exacerbations is unknown.
This project, led by Dr. Zhao at the University of Pittsburgh, uses primary human airway epithelial cells to determine whether vitamin E will decrease the infection of RV in these cells, and thereby potentially limit the impact on asthma attacks. These cells serve as a research model to investigate whether inexpensive and easily available vitamin E can reduce RV infection and improve immune dysregulation in asthma.
Successful completion of this study will advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which rhinovirus infections worsen asthma symptoms. Importantly, it could identify vitamin E as a potentially safe, accessible, and cost-effective intervention in asthma, paving the way for future clinical trials.
Author: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Title: School Care Connect: Promoting Asthma Management and Support for Children
Summary: This project aims to improve asthma management for children by strengthening care coordination. Key strategies include expanding School Care Connect, which enhances collaboration between medical providers and school health professionals; piloting a new model for delivering asthma care during the school day; and increasing support for families through community-based sites that provide convenient access to asthma education and resources. Collectively, we expect these efforts will create a coordinated, multi-setting approach to pediatric asthma care that improves access to services and equips school nurses and families to support optimal asthma control.
Author: Allegheny County Health Department
Title: Allegheny County Health Department's Tuberculosis Program Smartphone Program
Summary: The Breathe PA Lung Health Research Grant allows the Allegheny County Health Department's Tuberculosis (TB) Program to continue providing smartphones to patients receiving treatment for active TB. The phones support both live and recorded Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT), making it easier for patients to take their medication as prescribed while reducing barriers to care. This builds on the VDOT program launched in 2025 through a previous Breathe PA grant. We expect this continued investment to improve treatment adherence and support successful patient outcomes.
Additionally, this grant will be used to translate TB educational material into more languages. Providing education materials in multiple languages will increase patients’ health literacy around TB and medication adherence. Translated materials are critical for those with latent TB (LTBI), or non-infectious patients, who are not observed taking medication. Treating LTBI or non-infections TB patients is a TB elimination strategy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Tuberculosis Coalition of America.
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