ATS Breathe Easy

ATS 2026 is right around the corner! Jennifer L. Taylor, MD, MSCS, ATSF –  ATS International Conference Committee chair, tenured Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and medical director of Clinical Research Services at National Jewish Health – talks about the amazing keynote speakers for this year’s conference, how to get the most out of the conference’s many offerings, and a little look at how much planning goes into this influential, must-attend conference. 
 
Early registration closes March 12! https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowATS261/Flow/ATT?atslogin=1&marketingcode=YOUTUBE

ATS members save even more on conference registration, so become a member or renew today: https://site.thoracic.org/membership

Scientific research grants were abruptly terminated for hundreds of researchers including those in the ATS community in 2025. Many of these resulted in research that had already been done and was in final stages being discarded. Important studies done with community collaboration are at risk. Neeta Thakur, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, was one such researcher. Her EPA grant to study the effects of wildfire smoke on vulnerable communities was abruptly terminated. Dr. Thakur discusses her experience receiving the cuts, collaborating with other researchers on a lawsuit to restore the funding and finish the research, and how these cuts will affect the future of health and patient outcomes with Air Health Our Health host Erika Moseson, MD, MA.
For more on funding cuts, listen to prior ATS Breathe Easy podcast episodes:
- ATS Breathe Easy - The Real Cost of Federal Budget Cuts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49g5RBSqMkE
- ATS Breathe Easy - The Human Cost of the NIH Cuts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dIlg_L7qqI

Interstitial Lung Abnormality (ILA) and Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) are often detected using CT scans and other imaging. But the definition of ILAs and how abnormalities are found throughout a patient's clinical journey continues to grow and improve. Host Eddie Qian, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discusses the importance of spotting ILAs and diagnosing ILDs earlier for better patient outcomes with experts Anna Podolanczuk, MD, Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Joe Mammarappallil, MD, Duke University.
This episode is sponsored in part by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Read "Approach to the Evaluation and Management of Interstitial Lung Abnormalities: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Statement": https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202505-1054ST

We all know that sleep is important, but how much can eight hours really do for us? Turns out, a good night’s rest does more than restore our energy; restful sleep helps regulate weight, blood sugar, and even blood pressure. Ding Zou, MD, PhD, and Mio Kobayashi Frisk, MD, of the University of Gothenburg, studied how conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia affect hypertension, with those getting less sleep having higher instances of elevated blood pressure levels. Host Patti Tripathi discusses their study, what solutions exist for better sleep, and what future studies may look like.
Read the paper: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202501-080OC

Apply to be featured at the 2026 Respiratory Innovation Summit. The deadline to apply is Feb. 13.
The Respiratory Innovation Summit (RIS) is an event that unites the innovators, investors, clinicians and advocacy groups who are leading the charge to create powerful new treatments for diseases of the lungs and airways. This meeting historically attracts 400+ global leaders representing all facets of the respiratory industry, including representatives from start-ups, business development, venture capital, government, academia and clinical medicine. 
Among those innovators is Maria Artunduaga, MD, MPH, founder of Samay. In this episode, she talks about her experiences in medicine, why she decided to found her company, and the importance of spaces like RIS for inventors and visionaries like her. Patti Tripathi hosts.