NEW YORK, September 6, 2017 — The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) will present the 2017 Scientific Grant Program awards at the Twelfth Annual Lung Cancer Awareness Luncheon, including the prestigious Scientific Merit Award and William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer. The event, to be held at The Pierre in New York City on Wednesday, November 1, educates attendees about the importance of lung cancer research, including the impact of LCRF’s Scientific Grant Program.

Each year, LCRF funds projects across the spectrum of basic, clinical and translational research through its Scientific Grant Program. Research topics include improving our understanding of lung cancer biology, prevention and screening for early detection, identification of new biomarkers and the development of targeted therapies, development of more effective and safer therapies, and supportive care and quality of care/outcomes research. To date, LCRF has awarded nearly 300 grants, totaling $23 million to 90 institutions around the world.

The 2017 Luncheon will feature two speakers. The keynote address will be given by Heidi Greulich, PhD, who is a Senior Group Leader at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. Chris Draft, Founder, President and CEO of The Chris Draft Family Foundation, Co-founder of Team Draft, and a former NFL linebacker and NFL Ambassador, will also be present to share his personal lung cancer experience.

“Lung cancer continues to be the number one cause of cancer death worldwide,” said Nancy M. Sanford, Executive Director, LCRF. “We’re proud of the tremendous work LCRF’s investigators have contributed to the field of lung cancer research. In recent years there have been wonderful advancements and we hope to build on this momentum.” 

For more information about the event and LCRF’s Scientific Grant Program, visit www.lungfund.org

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting lung cancer research. LCRF’s mission is to improve and save lives by funding groundbreaking research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has provided nearly 300 grants, totaling $23 million to 90 institutions around the world for critical lung cancer research.