News

Dennis P. Chillemi retires as LCRF’s Executive Director, Aubrey Rhodes steps into role

NEW YORK, NY (June 20, 2023) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announces today the retirement of its Executive Director, Dennis P. Chillemi, and the appointment of Aubrey Rhodes, currently LCRF’s Senior Vice President of Strategy, as his successor, effective July 1, 2023.

Mr. Chillemi joined LCRF as its executive director in November 2018, following its merger with Free to Breathe, a lung cancer fundraising organization based in Madison, WI. During his tenure, LCRF successfully weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, thriving in an uncertain environment. Under his leadership, LCRF’s research investment grew to its all-time high of over $2.4 million in a single grant cycle through research partnerships with industry and patient-led advocacy groups. Building on his vast experience in non-profit leadership from his years with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as well as several volunteer leadership positions, Mr. Chillemi brought a culture of philanthropy and growth to LCRF. Mr. Chillemi plans to spend his time working with his wife Annie and daughter MaryKate on their family farm in New York’s Hudson Valley and enjoying time with all seven of his children and his four grandchildren.

“We’re grateful for Dennis’s leadership and wish him well as he retires,” remarked Reina Honts, chair of LCRF’s board of directors. “He has set LCRF up to continue its growth trajectory, and his mentorship of Aubrey into the role of executive director will ensure continued success. Her deep knowledge of non-profit management and administration, along with her accomplishments leading LCRF’s strategy, make her the right leader for the organization. Aubrey’s commitment to forging strategic partnerships, ensuring that lung cancer patients are engaged in all areas of LCRF-funded research, and empowering volunteer leadership is evident in everything she does.”

Ms. Rhodes joined Free to Breathe, a legacy organization of LCRF, in 2016 as its head of community engagement and outreach, and was elevated to LCRF’s Senior Vice President, Strategy in 2021. In that role, Ms. Rhodes successfully led the organization in developing its first strategic plan, its research roadmap and partnered with Mr. Chillemi and the volunteer leadership of LCRF in identifying and hiring its first Chief Scientific Officer. Her prior experience with the ALS association in volunteer management, development, and fundraising, coupled with her strategic roles at LCRF, position her well for this new undertaking.

“I’m confident and excited to pass the baton to Aubrey,” said Mr. Chillemi. “Her leadership and keen instincts over the years have demonstrated her skill as well as her commitment to the lung cancer community. LCRF is in good hands and will thrive under her leadership.”

To learn more about LCRF, visit www.lcrf.org.

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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 409 research grants, totaling nearly $42 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.

Groups introduce $2 million, multi-year research partnership and open 2023 Request for Proposals

NEW YORK, NY (June 15, 2023) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and the ALK Positive Inc. (ALK Positive) announce the expansion of its current research partnership to fund $2 million in ALK-positive related lung cancer projects over three years. The aim of this research is to advance high-impact research focused upon transforming care and improving outcomes for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements were first detected in NSCLC in 2007 and occur in 5% of lung cancers. However, ALK rearrangements are significantly more common in young patients. Overall, the average age for lung cancer diagnoses is 70. ALK positive lung cancers are seen in half of lung cancers diagnosed before age 50, nearly one third diagnosed before 40, and occurs in patients in their teens and twenties. Risk factors for ALK-positive lung cancer are young age, female, and little or no smoking history.

Research, clinical trials, and improved molecular profiling has accelerated precision medicine approaches for treating NSCLC. The FDA has approved a number of therapies targeting various molecular subsets of NSCLC. ALK-positive specific NSCLC therapies now include crizotinib, ceritinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib, with newer, next-generation therapies, demonstrating superior efficacy against the disease. While ALK-positive targeted therapies can produce durable responses, many ALK-positive NSCLC patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies.

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. This grant mechanism will focus on furthering the development of novel therapies, including immunotherapeutic approaches, for patients with tumors harboring rearrangement of the ALK gene.

Work supported through this mechanism will address important mechanistic questions and developmental therapeutics across the care continuum and have the potential to increase survivorship. Given the specific interest in the development of novel therapies that could benefit this group of patients in the relatively near-term, a clinical trial must be associated with the project. It is also expected that a program of correlative, translational research will be proposed that will enhance the understanding of these oncogenic-driven lung cancers.

“ALK Positive is excited to once again partner with LCRF on important research. Our partnership leverages LCRF’s rigorous selection process and access to experts to help us choose and support the research most likely to save the lives of patients and improve their quality of life,” notes Dr. Kenneth W. Culver, ALK Positive Director of Research and Clinical Affairs, and ALK Positive’s representative for this research partnership. “This $2 million research award program expands on our research partnership with LCRF and will bring the total research grants our organization has helped fund and select to almost $7 million. The members and supporters of ALK Positive and LCRF have made amazing efforts to raise funds for this award program.”

“We are delighted to partner with ALK Positive on this funding mechanism,” remarked Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, Chief Scientific Officer of LCRF. “It is so important to push for near-term solutions for patients with tumors harboring ALK translocations, as resistance is expected, and options for these patients are limited. Both LCRF and ALK Positive are committed to investing in research that will improve therapeutic options and increase survivorship.”

This funding mechanism will grant awards to selected projects; applications will be subject to a rigorous review by ALK Positive’s Research Review Panel and LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. More details about the Request for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines will soon be available at LCRF.org/FundingOpportunities.

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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 409 research grants, totaling nearly $42 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 ALK Positive
ALK Positive is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to improve the life expectancy and quality of life of ALK-positive cancer patients worldwide. ALK Positive is committed to raising funds for research to fund research proposals that will transform ALK-positive cancer into a chronic or curable condition for all patients living with this disease. ALK Positive has raised over $7M to date to fund ALK-positive specific cancer research. ALK Positive is affiliated with the ALK Positive Support Group, the world’s largest community of ALK-positive patients. For more information about ALK Positive, please visit www.alkpositive.org.

Contact:

Lung Cancer Research Foundation
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
ssullivan

ALK Positive
Kenneth W. Culver MD
Director of Research and Clinical Affairs
ken.culver@alkpositive.org

The good news:
Results are in for the phase 3, double-blind ADAURA trial, and the news is very good. In the trial, patients with stages IB, II or IIIA, completely resected EGFR mutation-positive (EGFRm+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received a once-a-day regimen of osimertinib (Tagrisso®). The trial, which followed 682 patients, showed a 51% decrease in mortality at five years. A full 88% of those participating in this clinical trial were still alive five years after their initial surgery for their lung cancer, compared to 78% of those in the control group.

Why it’s important:
Osimertinib is the standard of care for previously untreated, advanced EGFRm+ NSCLC. Prior to the ADAURA Trial, the benefit of osimertinib post-surgery (adjuvant) was unknown. The results of this study prove the drug’s efficacy and safety for patients treated after surgical removal of their lung cancer.

What it means for patients:
Patients who have already had surgery for their early-stage EGFRm+ lung cancer now have a once-a-day pill regimen proven to increase their survival. The study’s findings also underscore the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing of tumors, so patients can receive the latest and most effective forms of treatment for their lung cancer.

What else we should know:
The EGFRm+ target for treatment was discovered by a researcher whose pilot project was funded by LCRF. Dr. Matthew Meyerson and his lab were the pioneers in identifying and locating the EGFR mutation and its mechanism, allowing for the development of drugs to effectively treat this particular oncogenic driver of NSCLC. Osimertinib, first approved by the FDA in 2015 for the treatment of EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC, is now the preferred initial treatment for patients with advanced EGFRm+ lung cancer. As a result of the ADAURA trial it is also approved for use in earlier stage EGFRm+ NSCLC after surgery. Despite the success of the trial, some questions still need answers. For example: Is chemotherapy after surgery necessary? What is the optimal length of treatment of osimertinib? Hopefully, future trials will answer these questions.

Read more:

Patients, caregivers, and others interested in lung cancer research gathered at The Ven Embassy Row in Washington, DC to hear about treatment innovations and gain a better understanding of the science involved. LCRF Together DC offered an opportunity for the community to connect while learning about promising therapies for treating lung cancer.

Dr. Benjamin Levy, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and LCRF Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, had a lively discussion with the group and moderator Dr. Joan Schiller. Dr. Schiller is a member of LCRF’s board and the liaison for its Education & Engagement Committee, and Dr. Levy serves on the committee as well.

The panel addressed topical areas including as gene mutations, biomarker testing, liquid biopsies, personalized medicine, immunotherapy, and antibody drug conjugates. “Dr. Levy’s remarks about liquid biopsies especially seemed to capture the audience’s attention,” said Courtney Brandt, who directs LCRF’s educational programs. “A lot of us left the event thinking about his words: ‘the future is blood – blood is beautiful.”

See photos of the event and watch a few clips below.

National Cancer Survivors Day^® is a CELEBRATION of survivors, an INSPIRATION for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of SUPPORT for families, and an OUTREACH to the community. Today is a demonstration that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

Colleen Conner Ziegler is a LCRF Board member, a research advocate, and a patient with lung cancer. She shared her own cancer treatment story with Mediaplanet and offered advice for others to prioritize their lung health. Read more at this link.

“My treatment journey has been relatively smooth. I am still responding to my first line of treatment. I have not had radiation or traditional chemotherapy, which I did receive when I had breast cancer. I am on a TKI treatment which consists of taking eight pills a day. My scans have been stable although every once in awhile something will appear on my brain MRI. I do see a neuro-oncologist and I have been fortunate that these have resolved with my oral treatment or have been something other than a potential lesion.”

By making a gift today, you can directly fund researchers across the country who are moving the needle in eliminating lung cancer. Together, we can give hope to patients with lung cancer and their families by funding the research that will lead to better, more effective treatments.

More science means more survivors.

Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day with a donation to support lung cancer research.

Donate now

A beautiful, sunny day in Olathe, KS was more than a perfect setting for friends and family to get together. It was also an opportunity to promote lung cancer awareness by building white ribbons.

LCRF, The White Ribbon Project, and The University of Kansas Cancer Center drew more than 60 people to Heritage Park to paint and sign large, wooden white ribbons which will be distributed throughout the Kansas City area to individuals and organizations that wish to support lung cancer awareness. LCRF extends a big thank you to Michelle Hills from The White Ribbon Project and Sarah Bechard, University of Kansas Cancer Center, for their role in coordinating the day. Chris Draft, NFL Ambassador, co-founder of Team Draft, and board member for The White Ribbon Project, joined the activity and spoke with the group. Thanks is also due to Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for sponsoring the event.

Ribbon-building is a powerful ways to build community, educate the public, and give a face to lung cancer. The White Ribbon Project promotes awareness about lung cancer by changing public perception of the disease. The White Ribbon Project will be joining LCRF on Saturday, September 30 for the Kansas City Free to Breathe Walk at Longview Lake Park.

To learn more about The White Ribbon Project or request a ribbon, visit thewhiteribbonproject.org. Find out more about the Kansas City Free to Breathe Walk at LCRF.org/kansascity.

Read The Medicine Maker‘s coverage of the development at this link.

“Research is LCRF’s entire reason for existing, and only research will cure lung cancer for good. The importance of this work can’t be overestimated. I’m eager to see the impact of our partnership – and the truly innovative work done in the labs we’ll support – that will improve outcomes for patients and families.”
– LCRF Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Antoinette Wozniak, to The Medicine Maker

LCRF announces new research collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca

Groups request proposals for research grants focused on antibody drug conjugates (ADCs)

NEW YORK, NY (March 16, 2023) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) today announced a collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca to fund up to three research grants focused on antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) to improve outcomes for people with lung cancer. Applications for these grants are being accepted through May 31, 2023.

Lung cancer is currently the number one cause of cancer death both in the U.S. and globally among both men and women, with more than 652 new diagnoses per day in the United States¹. In many cases, lung cancer is not detected until it is in advanced stages of the disease, when the disease is more aggressive, and patients’ outcomes are significantly poorer than if the disease is treated early. Often, there is disease recurrence after initial treatment.

Unlike conventional chemotherapy treatments, ADCs are designed to specifically target cancer cells and selectively deliver a highly potent payload, which may limit damage to healthy cells. An ADC comprises a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a protein present on the cancer cells, and is bound to a cytotoxic agent, known as the payload. The use of ADCs is already common practice in several cancers, thanks to their efficacy and potentially more manageable toxicity profile, resulting from the release of the cytostatic payload directly in the tumors². Currently, early phase trials of ADCs in non-small cell lung cancer are rapidly gaining ground, with promising results.

This collaboration seeks to support research to study HER2 directed and TROP2 directed ADCs including mechanism of action, biomarkers, and resistance mechanisms.

“LCRF is honored to continue its long legacy of identifying and supporting outstanding lung cancer research projects over the years. We are excited to collaborate with these generous supporters of our mission,” said Katerina Politi, PhD, Chair, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board. “The specific focus of this grant program is to further study ADCs and how they might be applied to lung cancer treatment. It is an exciting and promising area in lung cancer research.”

The LCRF – Daiichi Sankyo – AstraZeneca Research Grant on Antibody Drug Conjugates will develop further understanding of the mechanism of action and biomarkers for TROP2 directed ADCs in lung cancer and HER2 directed ADCs in HER2 mutant NSCLC and primary and acquired resistance to TROP2 directed and HER2 directed ADCs. The deadline to submit proposals for this two-year $270,000 award is midnight EDT on May 31, 2023. More details about this Request for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines can be found at LCRF.org/funding.

To learn more about LCRF and its grants program, visit LCRF.org.

[1] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

[2] Merle, Geoffrey MD∗; Friedlaender, Alex MD†; Desai, Aakash MD‡; Addeo, Alfredo MD∗. Antibody Drug Conjugates in Lung Cancer. The Cancer Journal 28(6):p 429-435, 11/12 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0000000000000630

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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 409 research grants, totaling more than $42 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

Dr. Narjust Florez, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Dr. Sydney Barned, a physician and patient with lung cancer, joined moderator Dr. Isabel Preeshagul on May 10 for a conversation on Women & Lung Cancer.

The topics inccluded risk factors, actionable prevention, and early detection steps to improve outcomes for women who are diagnosed with lung cancer, as well as the known differences seen in lung cancer between men and women. The presenters also discussed women’s sexuality and sexual health as it relates to the lung cancer journey. Watch the recording below.

A group of LCRF supporters and staff members were treated to a lab tour and presentation at Northwestern University’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center / Feinberg School of Medicine this week.

Leading the tour were Jyoti Patel, MD, who serves on LCRF’s Education + Engagement Committee; Lillian Eichner, PhD; Lu Wang, PhD; 2019 LCRF grantee Nisha Mohindra, MD; and 2013 & 2014 LCRF grantee Mohamed Abazeed, MD, PhD.

Guests and members of LCRF’s staff were treated to lab tours, a brief overview of LCRF-funded research by Northwestern scientists, and a panel of researchers answering attendees’ questions.

Dr. Leon Patanias and Dr. Patel opened the session by thanking all the attendees for their support and emphasizing how it takes partnership between scientists, physicians, and philanthropists to tackle the very difficult task of combating lung cancer. The advances made in lung cancer treatments in the last 15 years have been exponential – just 15 years ago, immunotherapy was an idea that they weren’t sure would work, and now it is standard of care for some lung cancer patients. The advancement of technology has allowed for faster, more efficient data analysis and the ability to use computational models to test hypotheses. Because of the unique collaborations between scientists, patients, advocacy groups, academia and philanthropists, survivorship has increased, toxicity has decreased, and prevention is a real possibility in lung cancer.

Science in action

The attendees then broke into two groups to visit two labs: Dr. Wang’s lab, where the focus is on understanding the genetic and epigenetic makeup of small cell lung cancer; and Dr. Eichner’s lab, where the focus is on LKB1 (STK11) which is among the most frequently mutated genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where it is inactivated in ~20% of cases.

Dr. Wang’s lab has recently identified several subtypes of small cell lung cancer, with 347 essential factors that drive this cancer. They have recently discovered, and named, a new gene driving small cell lung cancer and they are now working to better understand its function in the disease. Small cell lung cancer is particularly challenging because its epigenetic makeup shifts in response to whatever treatment the patient is receiving to bypass its effects, making it more difficult to treat. It is also more difficult to detect early, more aggressive and tissue samples are typically too small to test extensively. Stigma plays a large part in obtaining research funding, as 98% of all small cell lung cancers are directly attributed to tobacco use. While Dr. Wang’s lab has made incredible strides in identifying and understanding the many facets of small cell lung cancer, this is still a huge area of unmet need in research.

Research presentation

The group then convened for a research presentation by Dr. Mohindra about her work in developing the Patient Level Learning Health System, that coordinates the patient’s treatment regimen with their needs, their experiences, and their feedback and integrates it directly into their medical record where their care team is able to access, address and improve the patient experience. It is an online system that allows patients to see what they are able to self-manage versus what they may need to bring to their doctor.

Dr. Abazeed shared his experiences as a researcher and clinician, bridging the gap through collaboration between basic and translational science. He, too, emphasized the importance of developing resources and tools that remove the “noise” and allow for the researchers to hone in on the findings that will actually have impact for patients in the clinic.

Following the presentations, Drs. Eichner, Wang, Abazeed and Mohindra led a general question and answer session, largely around what the researchers see as the most exciting advancements in lung cancer. Dr. Eichner put it best when she said, “Based on the trajectory of advancements over the last decade, tomorrow is going to be exponentially ahead of yesterday.”

Watch our calendar for future opportunities to see research in action.

Here are some scenes from the event. (Click to enlarge.)

The good news:

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently announced its Pragmatica-Lung Study (or S2302) is now enrolling patients. This is one of the first NCI-supported clinical trials to use a trial design that removes many of the barriers that prevent people from joining clinical trials. This “pragmatic” approach aims to increase accessibility to clinical trials.

How it works:

The Pragmatica-Lung Study is a large lung cancer trial for patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has returned after previous treatment with immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Patients will be randomly selected to receive pembrolizumab (immunotherapy) and ramucirumab (anti-angiogenesis drug) or standard chemotherapy. This trial may help doctors find out if giving ramucirumab with pembrolizumab is more effective at treating patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer than standard chemotherapy.

Why it’s important:

It has a simpler design so that more patients can participate, and more oncologists can offer the trial to their patients; particularly those who are not affiliated with large academic institutions. This will increase the diversity of trial participants.

What it means for patients:

By increasing trial participation, especially among populations normally excluded from clinical trials, results of trials will be more reflective of the actual disease community and improve health equity.

LCRF appoints new executive director

Dennis P. Chillemi retires as LCRF’s Executive Director, Aubrey Rhodes steps into role

LCRF and ALK Positive expand research partnership

Groups introduce $2 million, multi-year research partnership and open 2023 Request for Proposals

Results of ADAURA trial show a significant improvement in survival

Panel discusses innovations in treatment during event in Washington, DC

National Cancer Survivors Day

More science means more survivors.

Kansas City gathering builds 100 white ribbons

Grants focus on exploring ADCs in lung cancer