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LCRF’s science team discusses the 2026 research grant program, why LCRF and OUCH-I are backing research on environmental factors and lung cancer, and how previous research is connected with treatments that are now benefiting patients. Watch the clip below.

Featured:
Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF Executive Director
Dhru Deb, PhD, Senior Director, Research & Administration
Antoinette (Toni) Wozniak, MD, Chief Scientific Officer

> Read this year’s Request for Proposals
> Learn more about the LCRF | OUCH-I research grant
> Read Dr. Deb’s Connecting the Dots series
> Donate to fund lung cancer research

Posted in Research, Science Team UpdatesTagged ,

In a year when a lack of federal funding threatened to stall progress in lung cancer research, the lung cancer community certainly stepped up. Support from generous donors and fundraisers made it possible for LCRF to fund $5 million in research grants during 2025 – more than any other funding year in its history.

The record 21 projects funded were selected from hundreds of applications, representing some of the brightest minds committed to improving outcomes for lung cancer patients.

A wide range of topics are being studied, from novel disease targets, predicting which patients will benefit most from immunotherapy, targets for small cell lung cancer, strategies for inhibitor-resistant lung cancer, screening in emergency patients, and more. These projects demonstrate profound promise to make a sustained and lasting impact on lung cancer research and outcomes.

See current funded research
Colleen Conner Ziegler

“Our Scientific Advisory Board and Research Advocates reviewed hundreds of submissions, and we’re excited to support the work of these grantees,” said Colleen Conner Ziegler, Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors and a patient with stage 4 lung cancer. “Keeping patients’ voices at the forefront of the research process is of utmost importance to LCRF and is evident in the projects that were selected for funding.”

Dr. Kathryn O’Donnell

“Each year, we are presented with many ideas that have the potential to change how we approach lung cancer prevention, detection and treatment,” said Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD, chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board and Associate Professor, Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center. “At LCRF, we’re committed to funding the most innovative research projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of people living with lung cancer.”

“Funding investigators early in their careers is often the catalyst to keeping scientists focused on advancing their best science,” Dr. O’Donnell added. “With the current uncertainties of federal funding, including the elimination of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s lung cancer program, funding from organizations like LCRF becomes even more important in maintaining momentum in lung cancer research.”

LCRF funds projects that demonstrate profound promise to make a sustained and lasting impact on lung cancer research and outcomes. The strength of LCRF’s research program is underscored by the trust, generosity, commitment, and vision of its partners, fundraisers, and donors.

Aubrey Rhodes

“LCRF is grateful to everyone who has made this grant cycle the largest in its history – 21 grant awards for more than $5 million,” said Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF’s Executive Director. “Ensuring that lung cancer research maintains momentum in an uncertain funding environment is of utmost importance. LCRF is committed to filling the funding gap. Working toward improving survival for people with lung cancer is our priority.”

With this year’s grants, LCRF’s total active research portfolio supports more than $21 million in lung cancer research projects. More funding for research means greater opportunities to uncover advances that will have a positive impact for patients.

All funded research

Research announcements:

Posted in Grants, ResearchTagged ,

The good news

I have been a Medical Oncologist for over 40 years, and I have had the privilege of witnessing an explosion of advancements in the treatment of lung cancer. It has now been over 20 years since EGFR’s pivotal role in lung cancer was fully realized. Since then, there have been a tremendous number of Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for novel agents in the management of lung cancer. 

Why it’s important

In 2025, a number of novel agents were FDA approved for various forms of lung cancer.

  • Two oral drugs, zongertinib and sevabertinib, for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors have HER2 (ERBB2) mutations and who have received prior systemic therapy.
  • In addition, sunvozertinib was approved for NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 mutations and larotrectinib for ROS1 and NTRK fusions.
  • For the first time, two antibody-drug conjugates were approved for NSCLC treatment. 
    • Telisotuzumab, a c-Met-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC), was approved for adults with NSCLC with high c-Met protein overexpression who have received prior therapy. 
    • Agents that already are FDA approved have found an indication in the treatment of lung cancer. An example is datopotamab deruxtecan, another ADC, that already is being used for the treatment of breast cancer and is now approved for patients with EGFR mutated NSCLC who have progressed on prior therapy.

What it means for patients

This ‘Science Made Simple’ does not include all the progress that has been made this past year, but these FDA approvals represent important advances in areas of unmet need, emphasizing the importance of molecular testing and the participation of patients in clinical trials. These advances would not be possible without the contribution of patients by their willingness to participate in clinical research.

What to look for

The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer has improved significantly, rising to 27% in 2025, compared to 17% in 2014. This result is attributed to advancements in treatment and early detection. 27% is clearly an improvement, but it is not good enough and more work needs to be done. 

In the coming years, look for more drug approvals and efforts to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage, particularly in patients who do not meet the current screening criteria (i.e. never smokers). 

Look for more advancements in the treatment of small cell lung cancer, which has been a particularly stubborn disease to treat but where there has been some recent progress. 

LCRF continues to support researchers who are trying to understand the biology of lung cancer in order to develop novel therapies and overcome resistance to treatment. 

Posted in Research, Science Made SimpleTagged , , ,

The good news

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved amivantamab to be given under the skin, which is called a subcutaneous (SQ) injection, for adult patients with the same conditions where amivantamab is already approved to be given through a vein, or intravenously (IV).

Why it’s important

Amivantamab is a type of treatment called a bispecific antibody, which means that it has two different targets, EGFR and MET. It has been approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in several situations:

  • For NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, it can be used in combination with chemotherapy as initial treatment, or on its own if disease has progressed on chemotherapy. 
  • For NSCLC with common EGFR mutations (exons 19 and 21), it can be used in combination with lazertinib as initial treatment, or in combination with chemotherapy if the disease has progressed after treatment with an EGFR targeted therapy (usually osimertinib).

The SQ injection of amivantamab was evaluated in the PALOMA-3 trial. Over 400 patients with advanced NSCLC and common EGFR mutations received either SQ or IV amivantamab in combination with lazertinib. 

The trial showed that patients who received SQ amivantamab had similar treatment responses and survival outcomes as patients who received IV amivantamab.

What it means for patients

An important consideration for patients is safety and convenience. The safety profile of the SQ amivantamab was generally similar to the safety profile of the IV amivantamab, with one exception. Infusion reactions occurred less often for SQ amivantamab (13% of patients) compared to those who received IV amivantamab (66% of patients).

Other side effects with either form of amivantamab could still include interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, venous thromboembolic events when used with lazertinib, skin rash, ocular toxicity, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

Another important factor is that the SQ administration allows patients to spend less time at their doctor’s office receiving amivantamab, which contributes to their overall quality of life.

What to look for

The SQ administration of amivantamab is likely to replace the IV administration of the drug in most circumstances and could be employed in clinical trials as well. Research that is geared toward reducing side effects and changing drug administration in order to improve a patient’s quality of life is very important. It is likely that there will be more clinical trials evaluating other treatments with the sole purpose of reducing side effects and decreasing the time that patients spend getting their treatments.

Posted in Research, Science Made SimpleTagged , , ,

La Dra. Coral Olazagasti y la Dra. Estelamari Rodríguez nos acompañaron a una discusión comunitaria sobre el cáncer de pulmón. Moderado por la Dra. Ana Velázquez Mañana, brindaron una descripción general del cáncer de pulmón y discutieron el diagnóstico y el tratamiento del cáncer de pulmón, las pruebas de biomarcadores y los ensayos clínicos, entre otros temas.

La Dra. Olazagasti es oncóloga de cabeza y cuello y oncóloga torácica en el Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center de la Escuela Miller de Medicina de la Universidad de Miami. La Dra. Rodríguez es codirectora del Grupo de Tumores Torácicos de la institución. La Dra. Velázquez Mañana es oncóloga torácica y catedrática adjunta de Medicina en la Universidad de California, San Francisco.

Ver la grabación aquí:

Coral Olazagasti , MD, and Estelamari Rodríguez, MD, MPH, led a Lung Cancer Community Talk in Spanish recently. With moderator Ana Velázquez Mañana, MD, MSc, they provided an overview of lung cancer, with a discussion about lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, biomarker testing, clinical trials, and more.

Dr. Olazagasti is a head & neck and thoracic oncologist for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Rodriguez is Co-Lead, Thoracic Site Disease Group for the institution. Dr. Velázquez Mañana is a thoracic oncologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Posted in EducationTagged , ,

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, produced when uranium breaks down. This gas is released through rocks, soil, and water, and can build up in enclosed spaces through cracks in a building’s foundation or other openings. Because it’s invisible and odorless, radon exposure doesn’t cause immediate symptoms.

However, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, resulting in more than 21,000 deaths every year in the U.S. It is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.

The highest concentrations of radon develop in spaces below ground level without much ventilation: basements, crawlspaces, foundations, sump pumps, and construction joints. While pockets of radon can be found across the country, some states have higher levels than others. Check your state’s radon levels here.

Check your state

If you live in an older home, or in a state with higher radon levels, be sure to test your home for the presence of radon. Safewise.com recommends these six detectors.

Learn more

How much radon is too much? Radon detectors measure levels in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) to indicate average, year-round radon levels. If your home measures between 2-4 pCi/L, consider taking steps to reduce radon levels. Higher than 4? Confirm the results, then take immediate action. The EPA offers more information here.

Download the EPA guide
Posted in AwarenessTagged

Collaborative grant funds research on the effects of air pollution and climate change in lung cancer

NEW YORK, NY (January 12, 2026) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and Oncology Advocates United for Climate and Health – International (OUCH-I) announce today that their collaborative research program, titled OUCH-International and LCRF Research Grant Program on the Effects of Air Pollution and Climate Change on Carcinogenesis and Lung Cancer Prevalence, is now accepting proposals. The two organizations are partnering to fund projects that examine the impact of environmental pollution and climate change on lung cancer risk, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes; along with innovative strategies to mitigate these effects. With support from AstraZeneca, the selected project will receive a $200,000 award over a two-year period.

Air pollution causes many health hazards, can contribute to the development of lung cancer, and can worsen its prognosis. Increasing evidence indicates that air pollution is a major cause of lung cancer, and the number of estimated lung cancer deaths attributable to air pollution has increased by nearly 30% since 2007, as smoking has decreased and air pollution has increased (Turner MC et al, CA Cancer J Clin, 2020). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified outdoor air pollution and particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (1 inch = 25,400 microns) as a cause of lung cancer (Straif K et al, IARC Press, 2013; Loomis D et al, Lancet Oncol, 2013; GBD 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators, Lancet, 2020). Data now show that exposure to pollution—whether from industrial sources or wildfires—increases the risk of lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers (Hill et al, Nature, 2023). Globally, outdoor (ambient) air pollution is regarded as the second most important cause of lung cancer mortality, and indoor air pollution is considered the seventh most important cause (GBD 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators, Lancet, 2020).

“Recognizing that exposure to air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for lung cancer should be central to discussions within the lung cancer community,” says Joan Schiller, MD, Founder of OUCH-International and long-time member of LCRF’s Board of Directors. “By funding research to better understand the effects of air pollution on the development of lung cancer, we hopefully will enable more effective risk recognition, screening, and education among patients and healthcare professionals.”

“Despite declining rates of tobacco use, the incidence of lung cancer in people with no known risk factors, especially in young women, is on the rise,” remarked Antoinette Wozniak, MD, FASCO, LCRF Chief Scientific Officer. “The more we understand about all major risk factors driving lung cancer, the better equipped we will be to diagnose earlier or even prevent lung cancer from developing.”

Submissions to the Request for Proposals will be accepted until midnight on June 2, 2026. All applications will be subject to rigorous review by LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board and OUCH-International. More details about the Request for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines can be found at LCRF.org/FundingOpportunities. 

# # #

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 450 research grants, totaling nearly $53 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 Oncology Advocates United for Climate and Health – International (OUCH-I)
OUCH is the only non-profit, nonpartisan volunteer cancer organization focused on mitigating the effects of climate change on cancer care.  Our mission is to advance awareness, actions, and policies that mitigate the effects of climate change on cancer care, and our pillars include advocacy, education and outreach research, cancer care delivery, sustainability, and resilience, and climate justice and health equity. Our members include oncology health care professionals (e.g. MDs, PhDs, RNs, pharmacists, social workers, researchers, patient advocates) who are interested in mitigating the effects of climate change on cancer.  We currently have over 150 members representing 27 states and 23 different countries, including six oncology professional societies.

Contact:

LUNG CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
ssullivan@lcrf.org

OUCH – INTERNATIONAL
Joan H. Schiller, MD
(608) 469-6992
joanhschiller@gmail.com
ouchforclimate.org

Posted in Announcements, GrantsTagged ,

Lung cancer research grant mechanisms open for submission

NEW YORK, NY (January 12, 2026) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) announced today that its 2026 funding opportunities are officially open for applications. 

Despite being the leading cause of cancer death for men and women worldwide, lung cancer research remains critically underfunded. LCRF was founded to address critical gaps in lung cancer research funding, a mission made more essential as resources for research remain unstable. By partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations, LCRF’s research investment through these grant mechanisms will help to sustain the progress made to date and maintain momentum in lung cancer discovery.   

LCRF’s primary funding mechanisms are designed to advance its mission of supporting researchers committed to addressing critical challenges in lung cancer by improving early detection, deepening understanding of lung cancer biology, exploring mechanisms of drug resistance and strategies to overcome it, and developing innovative treatment approaches.

LCRF’s Research Grant on Prevention and Early Detection in Lung Cancer is focused on identifying, characterizing, and developing approaches and techniques that will allow early detection and/or prevention of lung cancer and gaining insight into pre-neoplastic processes in the lungs. When detected at an early stage, the prognosis is better for most patients. Given the significance of and need for early detection of lung cancer and advancements in molecular screening, this mechanism supports research projects that facilitate prevention or approaches for early detection of lung cancer. The goal is to detect lung cancer at the earliest stages and subsequently increase survival and survivorship.

The LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant, seeks to fund innovative projects across the full spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health services, disparities, and social determinants of health research to help close the research funding gap and improve outcomes for people with a lung cancer diagnosis. This funding mechanism seeks novel ideas, approaches, methods, and techniques that promise to have a profound impact on people living with lung cancer and their treatment teams.

The LCRF Research Grant on Overcoming Resistance in Lung Cancer will support research projects with an emphasis on characterizing, identifying, treating, overcoming, or preventing resistance to therapies in lung tumor cells, tissues, mouse models, or patients. In the last 10 to 15 years, there have been accelerated clinical trials and FDA approvals of several targeted therapies and immunotherapies for lung cancer. Despite these advances, drug resistance limits the therapeutic potential of these treatments. There is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms of drug resistance and to develop ways to overcome and prevent resistance. This grant mechanism will focus on furthering the understanding of the development, prevention, and therapy of resistance by supporting projects that seek to identify, characterize, treat or prevent resistance to lung cancer therapies and increase survival.

“The opening of LCRF’s Requests for Proposals marks the beginning of a new year and brings with it a renewed sense of hope,” says Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, Associate Professor, Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “Each year, we receive proposals with groundbreaking ideas that seek cutting-edge solutions to the complexities of lung cancer, and with them, hope for improved outcomes for people living with lung cancer. The LCRF Scientific Advisory Board looks forward to reviewing these proposals.”

“As a person with lung cancer, I am impressed and inspired by the proposals we receive from talented investigators,” remarks Colleen Conner Ziegler, lung cancer survivor and LCRF board chair. “Being able to see scientific advancements in their earliest stages and being a part of moving them forward for the lung cancer community is an incredibly rewarding experience.”

Each of these funding mechanisms will award $150,000 over two years for selected projects, and all mechanisms will be reviewed through a two-step process: Letters of Intent will be accepted until midnight on March 10, 2026; if selected, investigators will then be chosen to submit full proposals following a rigorous scientific review. More details about each of the Requests for Proposal, along with eligibility, requirements, and deadlines can be found at LCRF.org/Funding.

# # #

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
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 450 research grants, totaling nearly $53 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 and Communications
ssullivan@LCRF.org

Posted in Announcements, GrantsTagged

From Rare Mutation to FDA Approval for NTRK-Positive Lung Cancer

By Dhru Deb, PhD
Senior Director, Research and Administration, LCRF

NTRK gene fusions are rare oncogenic drivers, occurring in only a small fraction of lung tumors, and their rarity meant they were often overlooked in drug development. Unlike more common drivers such as EGFR or ALK, there were no targeted therapies specifically designed for patients with NTRK-driven lung cancers, leaving clinicians with limited options beyond conventional chemotherapy and making research both scientifically challenging and financially risky.

In this situation, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) made a prescient bet. By mediating intentions of visionary donors, in 2012 and again in 2015, LCRF awarded Young Investigator grants to Dr. Alexander Drilon, supporting his early work on rare oncogenic drivers like NTRK fusions—at a time when few believed such uncommon alterations could yield viable therapies.

When I reached out, reflecting on this partnership, Alex shared, “We really appreciate the work you are doing with LCRF as well and look forward to continuing to partner.”

That support helped generate the foundational evidence showing NTRK fusions were rare but highly actionable drivers of cancer.

Building on this early work, Dr. Drilon began leading the NAVIGATE clinical trial (NCT02576431) in 2015, testing larotrectinib, a selective TRK inhibitor, in patients with NTRK-driven tumors regardless of cancer type. For NTRK-positive lung cancer patients, the results were encouraging, with many experiencing rapid and durable responses.

As progress continued, attention turned to resistance. In 2021, Dr. Drilon and Dr. Emiliano Cocco identified a new resistance mechanism publishing their findings in prestigious Nature Medicine. As Dr. Cocco noted, “Lung cancer doesn’t stand still and neither can we.”

LCRF sustained its commitment in 2022 by funding Dr. Cocco’s ongoing work to refine treatment strategies.

The impact of this long-term investment became clear in 2025, when NAVIGATE demonstrated clear clinical benefit and the FDA fully approved larotrectinib for NTRK-positive tumors, following its accelerated approval in 2018—the first targeted therapy for this rare driver. What began as a high-risk idea ultimately reshaped care for an underserved group of lung cancer patients, showing how early funding can ensure that even patients with rare cancers are not left behind.

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.

Posted in ResearchTagged ,