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Through direct donor funding and research collaborations, LCRF strengthens commitment to research

NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation recently announced several new funding opportunities in addition to its normal RFP cycle that began in January. In June, Requests for Proposals were made available for submission for two new Team Science awards and an Early Career Investigator award, providing the research community with more opportunities to advance lung cancer research.

The 2025 LCRF Team Science Award on Advancing Therapies Toward Curing EGFR Mutated Lung Cancers, a 3-year, $1.5 million award, made possible by a generous private donation from Benay and Steven Taub, will focus on furthering the development of novel therapies for patients with EGFR-mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC.)

A research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, totaling $2.25 million, will provide funding for two other grant awards. The LCRF|Boehringer Ingelheim Team Science Award on Innovative Approaches Toward the Treatment of HER2-Driven Lung Cancer award, is a $1.5 million, 3-year award focusing on the science behind HER2 mutations as a driver of malignancy and/or the development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat tumors with HER2 mutations. The LCRF|Boehringer Ingelheim Early Career Investigator’s Award on Innovative Approaches Toward the Treatment of HER2-Driven Lung Cancer will fund three, two-year grants focused on the study of HER2 mutant lung cancer, supporting the work of scientists who are early in their independent research careers.

“LCRF was founded twenty years ago to address critical gaps in lung cancer research funding. Today, as the research landscape grows more uncertain, we remain committed to advancing the science by partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations. Private funding is more essential than ever to sustain progress. While we’ve made significant strides in treatment discovery, far too much promising research still goes unfunded,” says Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF’s executive director. “It is through the generosity of people like Benay and Steven Taub, and the vision of collaborators like Boehringer Ingelheim, that we will make an impact for people living with lung cancer. We have been very fortunate to have many incredible partners that make research happen and look forward to continuing to partner with those who believe, as we do, that investing in research now is what will bring breakthroughs to the fore.”

“We believe that supporting scientists to pursue their curiosity is key to driving meaningful progress and innovation—and that collaboration is essential to bringing groundbreaking treatments to patients,” said Bjoern Rueter, U.S. Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim. “We are excited to join forces with Lung Cancer Research Foundation as we embark on a new era for cancer research and create the Team Science and Early Career Investigator awards focused on HER2-mutant lung cancer.”

“Now more than ever, it is important for organizations like LCRF to fill funding gaps,” says Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, and Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Partnerships and collaborations across the lung cancer community will allow LCRF’s research program to address unmet needs for researchers, their labs, and all people affected by lung cancer who look to LCRF to fund innovative projects. These efforts will ultimately lead to breakthrough discoveries and new therapies.”

Benay Taub, a lung cancer survivor, was very direct. “Our goal in funding the Team Science Award focused on EGFR lung cancers is to support a team of committed researchers in pursuit of improved treatments and outcomes for lung cancer patients, and hopefully, one day, a cure.”

To learn how you can support LCRF’s research grant program and keep science moving forward, visit LCRF.org/research.

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 429 research grants, totaling nearly $48 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit lcrf.org/research.

Contact:
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF
ssullivan@LCRF.org

Posted in Announcements, Grants, Partnerships, ResearchTagged

The good news

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk for adults with locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor mutated (EGFRmut+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received prior EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Why it’s important

An antibody drug conjugate (ADC) is like a “guided missile.” It is composed of an antibody that binds to a “target” on the cancer cell. The ADC is then taken up by the cancer cell. Inside the cell a “linker” connecting the antibody to the chemotherapy (payload) is broken and the treatment is released. ADCs aim to deliver a concentrated dose of chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells. In the case of datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) the target is TROP2. TROP2 is a glycoprotein that is present on the surface of many cells. It can be overexpressed in cancer cells thereby promoting cancer cell growth and survival. Two clinical trials, TROPION-Lung05 and TROPION-Lung01, contained a group of 114 patients with EGFRmut+ lung cancer who had received prior EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. These heavily pretreated patients received Dato-DXd. 45% of the patients experienced a significant shrinkage of their cancer. The treatment response often lasted more than 6 months. Side effects of special interest included soreness of the mouth (mucositis), changes on the surface of the eye, and inflammation of the lung (pneumonitis). Most side effects were low grade and there were no deaths related to treatment.

What it means for patients

Patients with advanced EGFRmut+ lung cancer benefit greatly from treatment that targets the EGFR mutation. Unfortunately, this highly effective therapy is not curative for the majority of patients. Inevitably these patients will get chemotherapy either initially or as subsequent treatment. Once therapy with the EGFR inhibitors and standard platinum-based chemotherapy are utilized the options for treatment are very limited. The ADC, Dato-DXd, represents a new alternative for these patients. The FDA approval is an “accelerated approval” which is a mechanism whereby drugs that are seen to have a clinical benefit are made available while awaiting more information from additional clinical trials. The drug company usually conducts more studies to confirm treatment benefit.

What to look for

Having an additional effective treatment option for patients with EGFRmut+ lung cancer who have exhausted other therapies is very important. However, more work needs to be done with the eventual goals of prolonging survival and even curing these patients. Look for more research and clinical trials employing novel agents in the treatment of EGFRmut+ lung cancer, developing more strategies to overcome resistance, and discovering biomarkers that determine which cancers are most likely to respond to treatment. 

Posted in Science Made SimpleTagged ,

Zofia Piotrowska, MD, MHS; Nisha Mohindra, MD; and our moderator, Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS; broke down the news coming out of this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting.

ASCO, or American Society of Clinical Oncology, is a leading organization for health care professionals involved in the care of cancer patients. It aims to conquer cancer through research, education, and the promotion of the highest quality, equitable patient care.

Watch the recording below.

Posted in Together SeparatelyTagged ,

The good news

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved taletrectinib for adults with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive (+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Why it’s important

The ROS1 gene is felt to be important in the regulation of various processes within the cell. A ROS1 fusion or rearrangement occurs when the ROS1 gene combines with part of another gene. The change in the gene can cause uncontrolled cell growth and cancer. The ROS1 gene is altered in about 1-2% of patients with lung cancer, usually NSCLC of the adenocarcinoma type. Patients who are ROS1+ tend to be younger than the average patient with lung cancer and have little or no smoking history.

Taletrectinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets the abnormal ROS1 gene and can help slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells. The drug was evaluated in 2 clinical trials, TRUST-I (NCT04395677) and TRUST-II (NCT04919811). In 157 patients, who had not been previously treated with a ROS1 inhibitor, 85-90% had a significant reduction in their cancer that often lasted over one year. For the 113 patients who received previous treatment with ROS1 inhibitor drugs, the response to treatment was 52-62% and lasted more than 6 months for most patients. Taletrectinb also demonstrated activity in brain metastases and the ROS1 resistance mutation G2032R. The most common side effects associated with treatment included: liver abnormalities, diarrhea, inflammation of the lung (pneumonitis), electrical irregularities in the heart, elevated uric acid, and muscle aches and bone fractures. Other side effects such as alteration of taste and dizziness were low grade.

What it means for patients

ROS1 fusions/rearrangements represent an abnormality in the cancer cell that can be treated with “targeted” therapy. Because of its rarity it is important that patients have molecular/genetic testing done on their cancer to determine if a ROS1 abnormality is present.

What to look for

Taletrectinib represents the results of efforts to develop new and improved targeted therapy for ROS1+ lung cancer patients.  Unfortunately, this drug is not a cure for most patients. Future research will be focused on understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance and how to overcome them. The goal of these research efforts is to eventually find a cure for ROS1+ lung cancer as well as other oncogene-driven cancers.  Expect that development of new drugs will continue.  

Posted in Science Made SimpleTagged , ,

New Team Science Award is $1.5 million over three years

NEW YORK, NY (June 17, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announces today a new funding mechanism: the 2025 LCRF Team Science Award on Advancing Therapies Toward Curing EGFR Mutated Lung Cancers. The Request for Proposals is now open for submissions. Designed to bring together scientific teams to accomplish innovative breakthroughs, this team science award must include at least two projects directed at understanding and treatment of resistant or persistent disease in EGFR mutated lung cancer.  

Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other cancer, accounting for an estimated 124,730 deaths annually in the United States alone.1 In the last 10 to 15 years, accelerated clinical trials and FDA approvals of targeted therapies for non-small cell lung carcinoma have been possible in part due to advances in molecular profiling of tumors. Many of these targeted therapies are directed against oncogenic drivers.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations were the first oncogenic drivers that were successfully targeted with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Subsequently additional oncogenic driver alterations in EML4-ALK, BRAF, RET, KRAS G12C, HER2, MET, NTRK, ROS1 and NRG1 were identified along with corresponding therapeutic options for treatment. Several TKIs including gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib, dacomitinib, and osimertinib have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of EGFR mutated (EGFRmut+) non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC.) Despite substantial progress in the treatment of EGFRmut+ lung cancer, available treatments are not curative, and resistance invariably develops. Sometimes biopsies are repeated to identify the source of resistance to potentially evaluate patients for additional targeted therapy. Usually, at some point in time chemotherapy is employed to treat the disease. Immunotherapy in the form of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has revolutionized the treatment of many forms of lung cancer but has not proven effective in the treatment of most oncogene-driven lung cancers.

Given that therapeutic options available to date are not curative, there is a need for novel approaches to treat these lung cancers and improve outcomes for patients with the ultimate intention of cure. This grant mechanism will focus on furthering the development of novel therapies for patients with EGFRmut+ NSCLC.

“There has been so much scientific discovery in EGFR mutated lung cancer, and with the development of targeted treatments, patients are living longer,” said Benay Taub, lung cancer survivor. “However, even with the best of circumstances, resistance develops and we need patients to have more treatment options. The goal of this award is to support a team of committed researchers in pursuit of improved treatments and outcomes for lung cancer patients and hopefully, one day, a cure.”

“EGFR discoveries were the start of oncogene-driven treatment and while the science has made great strides, there is still a significant need for more to be discovered,” says Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, Chief Scientific Officer for LCRF. “Our commitment to people affected by lung cancer is simple: continue to fund research that pushes the boundaries of what is known to what is possible – toward a cure. This award will hopefully move the science in that direction.”

“Tomorrow’s breakthroughs are made possible by research that happens today,” emphasized David Carbone, MD, PhD, Director, Translational Therapeutics Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and member of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. “Taking a team approach to combatting resistance in EGFR mutant lung cancer promises to accelerate the pace of discovery.”

This new Team Science Award is made possible by a generous private donation from Benay and Steven Taub. Their visionary support reflects a deep belief in the power of collaboration to drive scientific discovery.

Submissions to the Request for Proposals will be reviewed through a two-step process: Letters of Intent will be accepted until midnight on July 29, 2025; if selected, projects will then be chosen to submit full proposals. All applications will be subject to a rigorous review by LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. More details about the Request for Proposals, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines can be found at LCRF.org/FundingOpportunities.

1. Siegel RL, Giaquinto AM, Jemal A. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 24, Issue 1, Jan/Feb 2024

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 429 research grants, totaling nearly $48 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.

Contact:
LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (LCRF)
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
ssullivan@LCRF.org

Posted in Announcements, Grants, ResearchTagged ,

$2.25 million research collaboration focused on understanding and treating lung cancers harboring HER2 mutations; call for proposals

NEW YORK, NY (June 17, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announces today a new research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim creating two funding mechanisms designed to address HER2 mutations in lung cancer: a new Team Science Award and an Early Career Investigator Award.

Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other cancer, accounting for an estimated 130,180 deaths annually in the United States alone.1 In the last 10 to 15 years, accelerated clinical trials and FDA approvals of targeted therapies for non-small cell lung carcinoma have been possible in part due to advances in molecular profiling of tumors. Many of these targeted therapies are directed against oncogenic drivers.

The HER family of tyrosine kinases include HER1 (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] or ERBB1), HER2 (HER2/neu or ERBB2), HER3, and HER4. EGFR mutations were one of the first oncogenic drivers that were successfully targeted with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Despite substantial progress in this area, available treatments are generally not curative, and resistance invariably develops. HER2 mutations have also been identified as potential oncogenic drivers in lung cancer and occur in up to 4% of NSCLC.2,3 In the past two decades, several clinical trials have investigated the use of anti-HER2 therapies in lung cancer but led to disappointing results. On August 11, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to trastuzumab deruxtecan for patients with unresectable or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have activating HER2 mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy.4 This was a  positive step forward for patients with NSCLC whose tumors harbor these mutations. Most recently there are orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitors of HER2 that have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of HER2-mutant NSCLC.

Immunotherapeutic strategies have not been successful in the treatment of lung cancers with EGFR or HER2 mutations. It is of vital importance that there is a better understanding of the biology of HER2-mutated lung cancer as well as the mechanism of tumor response and resistance. Moreover, given that therapeutic options available to date are not curative, there is a need for novel approaches to treat HER2-mutant lung cancers. Boehringer Ingelheim and LCRF share the belief that a team approach to solving complex issues has the greatest likelihood to have near-term impact for patients, and funding early career investigators maintains the research continuum needed for scientific discovery that leads to breakthroughs.

“We believe that supporting scientists to pursue their curiosity is key to driving meaningful progress and innovation—and that collaboration is essential to bringing groundbreaking treatments to patients,“ said Bjoern Rueter, U.S. Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs. “We are excited to join forces with Lung Cancer Research Foundation as we embark on a new era for cancer research and create the Team Science and Early Career Investigator awards.”

“Delivering impact to patients is what drives LCRF’s research program,” says Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, Chief Scientific Officer for LCRF. “Research collaborations like this will accelerate the pace of scientific discovery moving forward. Our shared commitment to improving outcomes for people living with lung cancer continues to provide hope.”

The LCRF | Boehringer Ingelheim Team Science Award on Innovative Approaches Toward the Treatment of HER2-Driven Lung Cancer award, is a $1.5 million, three-year award to a team of researchers whose proposals have a program of closely integrated projects focused on the science behind HER2 mutations as oncogenic drivers of malignancy and/or the development of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with tumors harboring HER2 mutations.

The LCRF | Boehringer Ingelheim Early Career Investigator’s Award on Innovative Approaches Toward the Treatment of HER2-Driven Lung Cancer is expected to total $750,000 for up to three, two-year awards of $250,000 each, focused on HER2 mutations.

Submissions to the Request for Proposals will be reviewed through a two-step process: Letters of Intent will be accepted until midnight on July 29, 2025; if selected, projects will then be chosen to submit full proposals. All applications will be subject to a rigorous review by LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. More details about the Request for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines can be found at LCRF.org/FundingOpportunities.

1. Siegel RL, Giaquinto AM, Jemal A. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 24, Issue 1, Jan/Feb 2024
2. Stephens P et al. Intragenic ERBB2 kinase mutations in tumours. Nature 431:525, 2004.
3. Riudavets M et al. Targeting HER2 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a glimpse of hope? An updated review on therapeutic strategies in NSCLC harbouring HER2 alterations. ESMO Open 6:100260, 2021
4. Li BT et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan in HER2-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer, N Engl J Med 386:241, 2022.

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 429 research grants, totaling nearly $48 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information about the LCRF grant program and funding opportunities, visit LCRF.org/research.

About Boehringer Ingelheim in Oncology  
We have a clear aspiration – to transform the lives of people with cancer by delivering meaningful advances, with the ultimate goal of curing a range of cancers. Boehringer Ingelheim’s generational commitment to driving scientific innovation is reflected by the company’s robust pipeline of cancer cell-directed and immuno-oncology investigational therapies, as well as the smart combination of these approaches. Boehringer’s ambition in oncology is to take a diligent and broad approach, creating a collaborative research network to tap into a diversity of minds, which is vital in addressing some of the most challenging, but potentially most impactful, areas of cancer research. Simply put, for Boehringer Ingelheim, cancer care is personal, today and for generations.  Cancer | Boehringer Ingelheim

Contacts:
LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION (LCRF)
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
ssullivan@lcrf.org

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM USA CORPORATION
Emily Bard
Associate Director, Public Relations
emily.bard@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Posted in Announcements, Grants, Research

The good news

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to telisotuzumab vedotin-tllv, a c-MET-directed antibody drug conjugate, for adults with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high c-MET protein overexpression, who have received a prior therapy.

Why it’s important

An antibody drug conjugate (ADC) is like a “guided missile.”  It is composed of an antibody that binds to a “target” on the cancer cell. The ADC is then taken up by the cancer cell. Inside the cell, a “linker” connecting the antibody to the chemotherapy (payload) is broken and the treatment is released. 

ADCs aim to deliver a concentrated dose of chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells. In the case of telisotuzumab the target is c-MET. The c-MET protein, also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor, plays a crucial role in cell growth and development. Abnormal c-MET contributes to tumor progression and metastatic tumor activity, and it is associated with resistance to treatment. Increased (overexpression) of c-MET is present in up to 50% of patients with NSCLC.

Telisotuzumab was evaluated in multiple cancers in the LUMINOSITY study (NCT03539536). The trial included 84 patients with non-squamous NSCLC and high c-MET protein overexpression who had received prior therapy. The response rate was 35% and the median duration of the response was 7.2 months. The most common side effects were peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, decreased appetite, and edema. Patients also experienced lab abnormalities including decreased blood counts (hemoglobin, lymphocytes) and elevation of liver enzymes and glucose, and decreased sodium, phosphorus, and calcium.  All side effects were manageable.

What it means for patients

Telisotuzumab is the first ADC to get FDA approval for the treatment of NSCLC. The indication for treatment is after prior standard therapy. This is an “accelerated approval” which is a mechanism whereby drugs that are seen to have a clinical benefit are made available while awaiting more information from additional clinical trials. The drug company usually will still need to conduct studies to confirm that tumor shrinkage predicts that patients will live longer before full FDA approval is granted.

What to look for

There is a big interest in utilizing ADCs for the treatment of all types of lung cancer. There is much work to be done including: identifying the best targets, developing the best technology to manufacture ADCs to direct their action at cancer cells and not normal tissue, and discovering biomarkers that determine which cancers are most likely to respond to treatment.  Look for more research and clinical trials employing these novel agents in the treatment of lung cancer. 

Posted in FDA News, In the News, Science Made SimpleTagged , ,

Volunteers provide patient and caregiver perspective to foundation’s grant award process

NEW YORK, NY (June 10, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Research Advocates. This select group of volunteers includes patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates committed to identifying and funding innovative lung cancer research.

This group plays a vital role in shaping LCRF’s research priorities by helping to identify funding areas, draft requests for proposals (RFPs), review and provide feedback on grant applications, and support efforts in education, awareness, and fundraising.

“Patient involvement in LCRF’s research grant process is a critical component to identifying areas of unmet need and helping to identify the most promising projects to fund,” remarked Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, LCRF’s Chief Scientific Officer.  “With their lived experience and input, they ensure that we are investing in projects that have the greatest chance of making an impact on lung cancer and patient outcomes.”

“As a lung cancer survivor, I have experienced firsthand how vital research is—not just in developing new treatments, but in giving me hope for the future,” said Maggie McCloskey, a new LCRF Research Advocate. “Advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy have extended lives and improved quality of life for people like me. Research is not just about science—it is about creating more tomorrows for patients and their families. As a research advocate, I am proud to help bring that hope to others through research funded by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation.”

“I joined LCRF as a Patient Research Advocate because our voices are vital in shaping research that truly reflects the needs of patients. We are the ones living with the disease, and our experiences can drive more meaningful, patient-centered solutions that improve care and outcomes for everyone facing lung cancer,” remarked Sydney Barned, MD.

LCRF’s Research Advocates:

New Members (2025)

Sydney Barned, MD – Annapolis, MD
Internal Medicine Physician & Hospitalist
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Terri Ann DiJulio – West Chester, PA
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Catherine Doliente – Houston, TX
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Deborah H. Friedman – Piermont, NY
Retired publicist
Lung Cancer Survivor & Advocate

Stephanie Kaiser CRNP, AOCNP – Pittsburgh, PA
Thoracic Oncology and Hospice Nurse Practitioner, Board member, Libby’s Lungs; Lung Cancer Advocate

Matthew Koebbe – Madison, AL
IASLC Patient Research Advocate
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Maggie McCloskey – Moraga, CA
Lung Cancer Survivor/Patient Advocate

Tillman Nechtman – Saratoga Springs, NY
Professor of History at Skidmore College
Former Caregiver

Tejal Patel, PharmD, MHA, BCPS – Chicago, IL
Vice President, Operations – Sinai Chicago
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Emily Walthall – Brevard, NC
RETpositive Board Co-Chair
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Existing Members:

Caroline Blanchard, DNP, FNP-C – Metairie, LA
Urologic Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Colleen Conner Ziegler — Rochester, NY
LCRF Board of Directors, LCRF Scientific Executive Committee
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Denise Cutlip – Ypsilanti, MI
LCRF Education and Engagement Committee
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Dusty J. Donaldson — High Point, NC
Founder, Dusty Joy Foundation
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Bruce C. Dunbar — New Rochelle, NY
LCRF Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board member
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Stephen Huff – College Grove, TN
Founder of The Huff Project
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Tiffini Joseph, BSN, RN, CCRN – Pembroke Pines, FL
Pediatric CVICU, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Kristen H. Kimball, MS, MEM — Boston, MA
Educator, UCONN
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate and Former Caregiver

Barbara LaMonaca — Falls Church, VA
BSN, Speech Pathology & Audiology, Retired
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Barbara Marsh, DSW, MSW – Miamisburg, OH
Social Worker
Caregiver/Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Frank McKenna, MS Ed — Virginia Beach, VA
Cancer Exercise Specialist; Founder, Beach Better Bodies
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Aileen Murgatroyd – Yorkshire, UK
Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Emily Venanzi, PhD — Newton, MA
ALK Positive Inc. Medical Committee 
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & Advocate

Marc Tannenbaum, MD – New York, NY
Caregiver/Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

Randi Warren, MD – New York, NY
Lung Cancer Patient/Survivor & AdvocateCaregiver/Lung Cancer Patient Advocate

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 429 research grants, totaling nearly $48 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.

Contact:
Sheila Sullivan, Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF – ssullivan@lcrf.org

Posted in AnnouncementsTagged

The research you fund through LCRF is making meaningful progress in the fight against lung cancer. Here are links to several grantees’ one-year updates, which were posted recently as a series.

Studying SETD2 in cancer cells
Francisco Expósito, PhD, Yale University
2023 LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program

Creating a new approach to treatment
Trever Bivona, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco
2023 LCRF Research Grant on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer

Toward effective therapies for SCLC
Benjamin Morris, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
2023 LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program

Exploring aging and cancer growth
Luis Prieto, PhD, Mayo Clinic
2023 LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer

ADCs for difficult to treat cancers
Carl Gay, MD, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
2023 LCRF–Daiichi Sankyo–AstraZeneca Research Grant on Antibody Drug Conjugates

New targets for therapy-resistant SCLC
Ann Pendergast, PhD, Duke University School of Medicine
2023 LCRF Research Grant on Understanding Resistance in Lung Cancer

Inhibiting Tim-1 to enhance immunotherapy
Lloyd Bod, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
2023 LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer

Posted in Grants, Research, Science Made Simple