Key Events
The Ann Theodore Foundation Learning Opportunities in Medicine and Sarcoidosis (ATF-LOMAS) grant program has awarded its first cycle of funding, distributing a total of US$600,000 to three early-career faculty researchers studying sarcoidosis.
The recipients, chosen through a partnership between the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) and the Ann Theodore Foundation (ATF), are:
- University of Maryland, Baltimore: Bing Ma, PhD, for the project "Prognostic and Mechanistic Metabolomic Drivers of Sarcoidosis Progression"
- Johns Hopkins University: Kristen Mathias, MD, for the project "Environmental Drivers of Clinical Heterogeneity in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis"
- National Jewish Health: Mary Richert, MD, for the project "Transcriptomic Signatures of Sarcoidosis-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis"
Concurrently, ATF-LOMAS has issued a request for proposals for its second annual funding cycle. Applications from early-career faculty (within five years of first independent appointment) are due by October 26, 2026. Awardees will be selected in January 2027 and receive up to US$200,000 over two years, along with a faculty mentor. Optional letters of intent may be submitted by July 23, 2026 for preliminary feedback.
"Promising researchers often leave the sarcoidosis field for fields with more consistent funding. Grant programs like ATF-LOMAS can help provide funding and guidance to retain talent." – Melissa Stevens, executive vice president of strategic philanthropy at the Milken Institute
Background
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition characterized by abnormal clusters of immune cells, most frequently in the lungs. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, breathing difficulties, joint pain, fever, and eye inflammation. Outcomes vary widely: some individuals recover spontaneously within one to two years, while others experience lifelong or recurrent complications. The only FDA-approved treatments are general anti-inflammatory agents, which mitigate symptoms but do not address underlying causes.
The ATF-LOMAS program was created to address the lack of sustainable funding for early-career sarcoidosis researchers. According to SPARC and ATF, the program aims to provide start-up resources and mentorship to help researchers establish careers in the field.
To date, ATF-LOMAS, ATF-BSI, and ATF-SIM have collectively committed over $15 million to sarcoidosis research.
Looking Ahead
The ATF-LOMAS program represents a strategic investment in the next generation of sarcoidosis researchers, offering both critical funding and long-term mentorship to ensure talent remains in this underserved field.