Grant funds research into air pollution’s effects on sarcoidosis
Award from FSR, ATS will help pulmonologist explore possible connections
A Partner Grant from the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) will support a research project focused on possible connections between air pollution and outcomes of people with sarcoidosis.
The grant, totaling $100,000 over two years, was awarded to Mark Mallozzi, MD, a pulmonologist and researcher at National Jewish Health, for his project titled “Association of PM2.5 exposure with sarcoidosis outcomes at baseline and longitudinal follow-up.”
The project aims to evaluate whether exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the most commonly studied air pollutant, influences outcomes in people with sarcoidosis, both at the study’s start and over time.
“Dr. Mallozzi’s grant will provide the scientific community with valuable insight into the environmental causes of sarcoidosis,” Mary McGowan, president and CEO of FSR, said in a foundation press release. “We are pleased to partner with the American Thoracic Society to support dedicated investigators like Dr. Mallozzi who are committed to increasing the understanding of this complex disease.”
The FSR/ATS Partner Grant is meant to support research projects from early-career investigators that have the potential to significantly advance sarcoidosis knowledge and care.
Researcher targets link between PM2.5 exposure, sarcoidosis
In sarcoidosis, abnormal immune processes cause small clumps of inflammatory cells to form in tissues and organs. These clumps, called granulomas, can affect tissue and organ function, eventually hardening and potentially causing permanent damage.
Different types of sarcoidosis affect specific organs and result in different symptoms. When the disease affects the lungs, it is called pulmonary sarcoidosis, and in severe cases, it may progress to cause lung scarring, or fibrosis, that can further affect breathing.
While researchers still don’t fully understand underlying causes and risk factors of sarcoidosis, triggering events, such as infections and environmental exposures, are thought to contribute to the overactive immune response that marks the disease.
With the FSR/ATS Partner Grant, Mallozzi plans to shed light on the link between PM2.5 exposure and sarcoidosis outcomes.
“This grant will be essential in advancing my career as a physician-scientist focusing on sarcoidosis and environmental exposures,” Mallozzi said.
Environmental triggers in sarcoidosis among summit topics
PM2.5 is a type of air pollution made of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers — about 30 times thinner than a human hair — that can reach deep into the lungs and affect their function. Common sources include fossil fuel combustion, wildfires, agricultural activities, and burning wood or coal.
While research on this topic is limited, and most studies have been small, there is some evidence of an association between exposure to PM2.5 and sarcoidosis features.
Data suggest exposure to high PM2.5 levels in the five years before a pulmonary sarcoidosis diagnosis is linked to a faster decline in lung function. Short-term PM2.5 exposures have also been associated with more severe respiratory symptoms and poorer quality of life. Recently, a study also found that racial differences in PM2.5 exposure could contribute to health disparities in sarcoidosis.
Environmental triggers in sarcoidosis is one of the topics to be explored at the 2025 FSR Virtual Global Sarcoidosis Summit, which will be held June 28-29. The theme is “United for Progress: A New Chapter in Sarcoidosis.”
“The 2025 Summit is more than just an event — it’s a powerful opportunity to unite the global sarcoidosis community around shared learning, personal empowerment, and collective progress,” McGowan said in a foundation press release announcing the event. “With sessions designed for patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike, the summit aims to break down barriers to care and ensure that no one has to face sarcoidosis alone.”
The upcoming summit will offer opportunities to explore health inequities and other community issues. There will be affinity groups for Black people and international residents with sarcoidosis to form connections and discuss unique challenges.
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