American Thoracic Society

Day 3 of our retrospective! There were a ton of amazing events, including the Diversity Forum, the opening of the exhibit hall and the ATS AI Lab, and important talks on a variety of lung disease-related subjects.

The ATS is expressing serious concern with a proposed rule issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would have significant consequences for how federal research grants are reviewed, awarded, managed, and shared.

The ATS is especially concerned that the rule would weaken peer review, further politicize science, limit the dissemination of federally funded research, and create new barriers to scientific progress and patient health. “Federal research funding should be guided by scientific merit, rigorous and transparent peer review, and the urgent health needs of all patients and the public,” said ATS President Michelle Ng Gong, MD, MS, ATSF. “The federal government should be strengthening research policies that help prevent disease and save lives; not creating new obstacles for the scientists and clinicians working to advance public health.”

The ATS will submit formal comments opposing the proposed rule. Comments are due to OMB by Monday, July 13. Learn more: https://www.regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001

The first session of the Clinical Year in Review series in Orlando contextualized evolving evidence, practice implications, and unmet needs in asthma, pulmonary vascular disease, and more. Read the full recap in ATS Conference News: https://www.atsconferencenews.org/clinical-year-in-review-series-begins-with-insights-on-asthma-pulmonary-vascular-disease-vaccines-and-sleep/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ATS-2026-post-assoc-facebook-share&utm_content=link-share

Day 2 of our photo retrospective takes us to RIS 2026, the opening ceremony with keynote from Robert Wachter, MD, and assembly and global health meetings!

Check out some of these great pictures from the first day of ! From demos to boot camps to meetings, attendees got to learn about new technologies and techniques while connecting with colleagues.

Want to take your career to the next level? Apply to join the 2027 class of ATS Fellows! 📝

The ATS Fellow designation recognizes members who have made significant contributions to the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine through sustained service, scholarship, and leadership within the ATS.

Now is the time to take this important step in your professional journey; apply by Sept. 15: https://site.thoracic.org/membership/ats-fellows

On World No To***co Day 2026, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) reiterates the need for countries to urgently implement decisions made at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on To***co Control.

In particular, FIRS highlights the devastating environmental impact of to***co and ni****ne product waste – and urges countries to consider the importance of environmental protection in the context of advancing to***co and ni****ne control policies.

Read more: https://site.thoracic.org/press-releases/bad-for-health-and-the-environment-lung-experts-highlight-environmental-impact-of-to***co-product-waste

In the U.S., hospital encounters for COPD saw a rise in 30-day revisits in hospitals that underwent private equity acquisition, according to data presented at ATS 2026.

“Our findings add to growing concerns around the potential negative effects of private equity ownership in health care and highlight the need for stronger regulations of these acquisitions to help protect our patients,” Stephen Mein, MD, from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, told Healio.

Read more on Healio: https://www.healio.com/news/pulmonology/20260527/hospital-revisit-rate-for-copd-encounters-higher-after-private-equity-acquisition