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Foundation announces 2022 Scientific Research Grant Awards 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
NEW YORK, December 6, 2022  

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is pleased to announce the awardees of its 2022 Scientific Grant Program. This years’ grant cycle includes three new areas of funding in addition to its pilot grants: LCRF Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer, LCRF Research Grants on Oncogenic Drivers in Lung Cancer in partnership with several patient-led oncogene groups, and the newly launched LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) for Lung Cancer. In partnership with ALK Positive, a separate request for proposals was introduced for the 2022 funding cycle.  

LCRF awarded $2.45 million dollars in research grants, the largest single year research investment in its history, to 15 investigators whose projects show promise to make a sustained and lasting impact on the field of lung cancer research and lung cancer outcomes. These grants are made possible, in part, by support from Bristol Myers Squibb, the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, the Hearst Foundation, LRE Foundation, AstraZeneca, ALK Positive, the EGFR Resisters, the Exon 20 Group at ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network, KRAS Kickers, MET Crusaders, and donations from LCRF’s many supporters. 

“It is always exciting to extend grant funding to these dedicated investigators,” said Reina Honts, Chair of LCRF’s Board of Directors. “It is through these research grants that LCRF can have the most impact on lung cancer community. Supporting researchers whose projects address the most pressing issues in lung cancer continues LCRF’s commitment to advancing research and puts us squarely on the path to LCRF’s vision of a world without lung cancer.” 

“By funding projects that explore a broad range of challenging questions in lung cancer and by increasing the diversity of the lung cancer research workforce, we’re supporting science that seeks solutions to lung cancer’s most vexing problems,” said Katerina Politi, PhD, Chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, Cancer Biologist and Associate Professor at Yale’s School of Medicine. “It is the work of these investigators that moves the science forward in ways that lead to significant breakthroughs.” 

Partnerships enable additional areas of study

Through its annual Pilot Grant Program, LCRF funds innovative research focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. This year, LCRF will be funding two projects through this mechanism.  

LCRF’s Minority Career Development Award for Lung Cancer, a two-year award to support early-stage scientists from underrepresented groups, is supported in part by a grant from Bristol Myers Squibb and the Hearst Foundation. This year, LCRF will be funding two projects in this area that will increase representation of investigators from underrepresented groups in lung cancer. 

LCRF’s Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer is presented to two recipients whose projects facilitate or advance the understanding and characterization of pre-neoplasia or approaches for early detection in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer.  

The LCRF Research Grants on Oncogenic Drivers in Lung Cancer, led and funded in partnership with patient advocacy groups EGFR Resisters, KRAS Kickers and MET Crusaders, are presented to seven recipients: three focusing on EGFR oncogenic driver mutations, three in MET alterations, and one KRAS-focused project.  

The ALK Positive/Lung Cancer Research Award, a two-year, $250,000 grant has been awarded to two recipients whose projects will focus on the study of ALK positive lung cancer. These awards are presented in partnership between ALK Positive and LCRF.  

“Patient led and funded research can uniquely address the specific unmet needs of patients,” says Jill Feldman, co-founder of the EGFR Resisters. Ivy Elkins, also a co-founder of the EGFR Resisters, echoes those sentiments. “The strength of our community of patients and the funds they’ve raised is reflected in the projects being funded through our partnership with LCRF,” Ms. Elkins added. 

“The Exon 20 Group is thrilled to be co-funding, with the EGFR Resisters and LCRF, Dr. Jonathan Ostrem’s important targeted therapies project, as his novel approach will fill an important gap in exon 20-directed research,” remarks Robert T. Hanlon, PhD, chair and co-founder, the Exon 20 Group at ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network. 

“Partnering with LCRF allows us to leverage their expertise in funding innovative research to fulfill the MET Crusader’s mission of helping people with MET mutations live longer and better lives,” said John Hallick, president of the MET Crusaders. “The research we fund today will bring a better tomorrow.” 

“We’re hopeful that this research will help uncover more treatment options for people with a KRAS mutation,” said Terri Conneran, who leads KRAS Kickers. “More research means greater survival.” 

Special awards recognize exemplary projects

Each year, LCRF recognizes exemplary projects through its James B. Dougherty, MD Award and its William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer, in honor of the contributions to LCRF made by these esteemed former board members. 

The James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit is presented to the investigator whose proposal was selected for outstanding overall merit by the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board. This year’s recipient is Swarnali Acharyya, PhD of Columbia University Medical Center, whose project is titled Drugging the S100A9-Retinoic acid pathway: companion biomarker and therapy. 

“I’m truly excited and honored to receive this James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit,” said Dr. Acharyya. “This award will enable us to focus on novel treatments for EGFR-therapy-resistant brain metastasis. I am grateful for the support of the LCRF that will help us take on this challenge.” 

LCRF’s William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer is presented to the investigator whose proposal not only demonstrated exceptional scientific merit but also exemplified an enduring commitment to making an impact in the field of lung cancer research. This year’s recipient is Emiliano Cocco, PhD from the University of Miami, whose project is titled Exploring novel therapeutic options to target MET-driven lung cancers.

“I am honored to receive the William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation,” said Dr. Cocco.  

The 2022 Pilot Grant Program award recipients include: 

Huanhuan Chen, PharmD, PhD 
The University of Chicago  
A human pluripotent stem cell-based approach to metastasis of small cell lung cancer 

Bingnan Zhang , MD 
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center  
Harnessing DLL3 as a CAR T target in small cell lung cancer 

The 2022 Minority Career Development Award recipients include: 

Amanda Iris Bradley, PhD 
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center 
Discovering genetic factors of met exon skipping and drug resistance in lung cancer 

Carla Concepcion, PhD 
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Targeting SMARCA4-deficient lung cancers 

The 2022 Research Grant on Early Detection and Pre-Neoplasia in Lung Cancer award recipients include: 

Mohammad Shahrokh Esfahani, PhD 
Stanford University 
Noninvasive prediction of local recurrence in localized NSCLCs after CRT 

Tim Lautenschlaeger, MD 
Indiana University 
24-hour urine based ctDNA analysis for early-stage NSCLC detection 

The 2022 Research Grants on Oncogenic Drivers in Lung Cancer award recipients include: 

Swarnali Acharyya, PhD – EGFR Resisters grant recipient 
James B. Dougherty Award recipient
Columbia University Medical Center 
Drugging the S100A9-Retinoic acid pathway: companion biomarker and therapy 

Luke Hoeppner, PhD – EGFR Resisters grant recipient 
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities 
Predictive biomarkers and new therapeutic strategies to prevent EGFR TKI-refractory lung cancer progression 

Jonathan Ostrem, MD, PhD – Exon 20 Group & EGFR Resisters grant recipient 
University of California, San Francisco 
Enhancing the precision of targeted therapies for EGFR-mutant lung cancer 

Timothy F. Burns, MD, PhD – MET Crusaders grant recipient 
University of Pittsburgh 
Targeting glycolysis in met altered lung cancer brain metastases 

Emiliano Cocco, PhD –  MET Crusaders grant recipient
William C. Rippe Award recipient  
University of Miami 
Exploring novel therapeutic options to target MET-driven lung cancers 

Xiuning Le, MD, PhD – MET Crusaders grant recipient 
University of Texas 
Optimization of MET-CAR-T/NK cell-based therapies for MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC 

Matthew Gumbleton – KRAS Kickers grant recipient 
The University of Utah 
KRAS inhibitors for the treatment of invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma 

The 2022 ALK Positive/Lung Cancer Research Award recipients include: 

Jaime Schneider, MD, PhD 
Massachusetts General Hospital 
Metabolic reprogramming as a driver of resistance in ALK+ lung cancer​ 

Álvaro Quintanal Villalonga, PhD 
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 
Identifying epigenomic mechanisms of ALK TKI resistance​ 

For more information about LCRF and the Scientific Grant Program, visit LCRF.org/research. 

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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 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 and Communications 
ssullivan@lcrf.org 


Posted in Announcements, Grants, ResearchTagged

Running a marathon a year after diagnosis

Jenn Rosato Perea

Jennifer Rosato Perea, who serves as Dean of DePaul University College of Law, ran a half marathon only four months after having a lobectomy. She knew she could do even more, so she committed to running the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon as part of Team LCRF.

“Being on Team LCRF is important to me to help support much-needed research to ensure more survivors like me have more treatment alternatives, and better quality of life. As a recent survivor of lung cancer, I want those diagnosed to see other survivors who are able to continue to run and remain active — which I did not see when I was diagnosed.”

Jenn was interviewed for the DePaul law school website before the November marathon. Watch below. Then read her story in her own words.

“I know that cutting-edge research enabled my medical team to give me the greatest chance to be cancer-free and maintain the best quality of life possible. I want research to help do the same for others.”

Donate and help others like Jenn

Q&A with Jenn on her lung cancer journey

How did you find out you had lung cancer?

I found out I had lung cancer through an MRI that was ordered before undergoing a hysterectomy in late 2020. I had no symptoms, so I did not get a follow up scan for months, as I did not believe I could have lung cancer.  I was not a smoker, and lung cancer was not in my family history, so it was a shock and I was in denial for a while.

What treatment did you undergo?

I had a lobectomy in February 2022, removing my lower right lobe. Luckily, because I had Stage 1 cancer, I did not need to undergo additional therapy (so no radiation, chemo, or clinical trials, thanks to early screening). I have spent the last nine-plus months healing and strengthening my right lung.

Who has been your biggest support, and how did they help?

I have had the support of my family (especially my husband and daughter), and my work family at DePaul. My husband was so supportive when I decided to run the NYC Marathon to raise money for LCRF, even though it meant my taking long runs on the weekend when we usually spend time together.  My daughter was a constant cheerleader and focused on my staying strong and true to myself. My work family supported me by not making a big deal of my having cancer and letting me be as “normal” as I could be – they did not stigmatize or patronize. Because there still remains stigma around cancer, it was important and appreciated for then not to focus on the diagnosis. My dad was a great coach through my marathon journey, as a former marathoner himself.

How did you maintain hope during treatment?

I maintained hope through my amazing medical team – they gave me hope by respecting my desire to keep a quality of life that included purposeful (and hard) work and being able to continue to run long distances. They provided me with candid responses, opinions based on research and data which they generously shared with authenticity and encouragement.  
I also found hope through my mom, 92 years old, a two-time breast cancer survivor – through her experience I knew that having cancer does not mean a diminution of quality or length of life.

How did you learn about LCRF and its mission?

When I was diagnosed, I looked for people like me, who had undergone a lobectomy and still ran long distances – and there were few I could find. While looking for information about lung cancer, I found out through the internet that  LCRF was supporting important research, and was also sponsoring a team for the NYC Marathon. I submitted an application to become a member of the team, not knowing that it was even possible since I thought the team was filled. I talked to Emma at LCRF, and she was so open and knowledgeable; I persuaded her to add me to the team, and it was the best “medicine” for my strong recovery! Being the only survivor on the LCRF mission always kept me humble and grateful, as other members of the team had suffered the loss of a family member.

Running the NYC Marathon with Team LCRF was my way of making some good out of the bad news of a shocking cancer diagnosis, and to be able to push my body (and lungs) to its limits. And it was a way to raise money for lung cancer research and reduce stigma about cancer – people are still surprised that I, as a lung cancer survivor, could run a marathon. I did not intend to be an inspiration to others, but glad that I have been able to motivate others to get screening or be more active. I also participated in a local fundraiser for LCRF.

What advice would you give someone just starting treatment?

I wish I knew that anyone can get lung cancer, and wish I had received follow-up screening and treatment earlier. I was very lucky that the cancer was slow-growing in Stage 1. Next time I may not be so lucky.

The advice I would give would be to advocate for yourself for screening and for treatment. Don’t ignore symptoms that seem off to you, and follow up on all your screenings. It is always better to know what is going on in your body, so that you can control your own treatment. Your treatment plan should reflect your own values.

Posted in Journeys, People, Women & Lung CancerTagged ,

The good news:

The FDA approved Imjudo® (tremelimumab) plus Imfinzi® (durvalumab) and chemotherapy based upon the Poseidon trial, which showed that 4 cycles of Imjudo/Imfinzi/chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival compared with 6 cycles of chemotherapy alone. A median overall survival of 14 months was reported in the combined treatment group and 11.7 months in the chemotherapy alone group. Overall response rates, progression-free survival and duration of response were also higher with Imjudo/Imfinzi/chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone.

Why it’s significant:

Imjudo and Imfinzi are immune checkpoint inhibitors – drugs which boost the immune system by different mechanisms. Unlike in other chemotherapy/immunotherapy trials, the survival benefit was seen regardless of how much PD-L1 was in the tumor, although patients whose tumors had more than 50% PD-L1 benefited the most.

The advantage of this regimen over others:

This study shows that Imjudo, which boosts the immune system by blocking a protein called CTLA4, is active against this disease. (Most other immunotherapies used in lung cancer block either PDL or PD-L1.)

So, what’s the rub?

The results of the Poseidon trial are similar to other studies which compared one or two immunotherapies plus two chemotherapies, so experts have called this a “me too” regimen. In addition, four-drug regimens cost more than a three-drug regimen, and have more side effects. This represents another treatment option but not necessarily a better one.

Read more
Posted in Science Made SimpleTagged , ,

LCRF kicked off Lung Cancer Awareness Month with its 2022 Scientific Symposium on November 1. The recording of the event is available below.

A very special thanks to our program chair and moderator, Katerina Politi, PhD; and all of our presenters: speaker Antoinette J. Wozniak, MD, FACP, FASCO; David J. Kwiatkowski, MD, PhD; Trudy G. Oliver, BSc (Hons), PhD; Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, MBA; Kurt Schalper, MD, PhD; and Alison Taylor, PhD.

LCRF thanks Eli Lilly & Company for sponsoring the event.

Posted in Education, Events, Research

Foundation brings Dr. Antoinette J. Wozniak to its Senior Leadership Team

NEW YORK, NY (November 1, 2022) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce the addition of Antoinette J. Wozniak, MD, FACP, FASCO to its senior leadership team as its first Chief Scientific Officer. She will begin her role in its official capacity in February 2023.

Dr. Wozniak will work with LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), senior leadership, and strategic advisors to design and execute a strategic scientific plan that fulfills LCRF’s mission. Her role will be a critical component of defining the organization’s research priorities. In addition, she will lead building and cultivation of stakeholder alliances with academic, industry, nonprofit and government entities, as well as manage LCRF’s growing grant and investment portfolio.

“Having Dr. Wozniak in this role will strengthen LCRF’s research portfolio, its future research investments, and help to ensure we meet our strategic objectives as an organization,” said Dennis Chillemi, Executive Director. “Her hands-on experience as a clinician and researcher is invaluable to meeting the needs of the community, as well as LCRF.”

“We are excited to have Dr. Wozniak as the scientific partner to LCRF’s SAB,” commented Dr. Katerina Politi, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine and chair of LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on the LCRF SAB for many years. Her vast knowledge of lung cancer as an oncologist and researcher will serve the organization in a multitude of ways.”

Dr. Wozniak was most recently Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, Leader of the Lung Cancer Disease Center, and the Associate Director for Clinical Research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She had previously been a Professor of Oncology and Leader of the Lung Cancer Team and Co-Director of Solid Tumor Oncology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan.

Dr. Wozniak has more than 30 years’ experience in conducting clinical trials, including national trials from the Southwest Oncology Group, NCI-sponsored studies, and pharmaceutical trials. Her clinical research focus has been in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymus gland cancer, and has authored more than 200 publications and abstracts.

In addition to her clinical and research career, Dr. Wozniak has been active in the lung cancer community, serving as an advisor for many organizations such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Southwest Oncology Group, the American Lung Association, and as a member of the LCRF Scientific Advisory Board.

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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 394 research grants, totaling nearly $39 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.

Posted in AnnouncementsTagged ,

Survivors, caregivers, friends, family, medical staff, and other supporters gathered Saturday, October 22 to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer research.

LCRF held its Free to Breathe Walks in New York City, Chicago, and the Jersey Shore, coming together to share stories and make memories. Around the nation, those unable to attend one of the three locations joined the Free to Breathe Anywhere Walk, doing their part in their own neighborhoods.

A month earlier, the Kansas City Free to Breathe Walk took place Sept. 24 in Olathe, KS.

Photos from the events:

New York
Chicago
Jersey Shore
Anywhere
Kansas City

If you have additional photos you would like to share, please email them to events@LCRF.org.

Anywhere Walk recording

Anywhere walkers tuned in for opening and closing ceremonies online. See the recordings below.

Posted in EventsTagged

Lung Cancer Research Foundation is partnering with KRAS Kickers to fund KRAS-specific research, and we urgently need the support of everyone who cares about unlocking the mysteries of this mutation. Together, we pledge to award at least one two-year grant towards improving outcomes for people with KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

KRAS mutations are found in about a quarter of all patients with lung cancer. It is the most common biomarker associated with lung and other cancers. Researchers have learned different sub-types of KRAS respond differently to treatment.

Donations directed to the LCRF / KRAS Kickers partnership will go directly to an investigator researching KRAS-positive lung cancer. LCRF has been a leader in funding KRAS research, awarding 13 grants totaling $1.3 million – leading to an additional $2 million in funding.

Chiara Ambrogio, PhD, is one of the KRAS investigators whose work has benefited from LCRF funding. “The prestigious grant I received has been instrumental for the trust in the quality of my research, which granted me the opportunity through additional awards to establish my own independent lab to research KRAS-positive lung cancer.”

With your support, we can make more work like hers possible.

Show your support

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to educate others about the impact KRAS research can have.

  • Visit KRASkickers.org/fundkrasresearch to find out more about KRAS Kickers’ goals for this initiative.
  • Donate or start a fundraiser at LCRF.org/KRASkickers.
    • Tell your friends and family how important it is for them to help you kick cancer’s KRAS! Share your personal story.
    • Begin a Facebook fundraiser and/or host a fundraiser event – take advantage of the holiday season.

“Having KRAS brings us together as KRAS Kickers,” said Terri Conneran, founder of the organization. “This is one of the alliances that truly showcases our KRAS acronym: Knowledge, Research, Advocacy for Survivorship. We choose to work together for better treatments for patients with KRAS-mutated lung cancer.”

If you have questions or need assistance creating a fundraiser, contact Emma Nestler at LCRF: enestler@LCRF.org.

Posted in Fundraising, PartnershipsTagged ,

Improving Equity in Lung and Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
Wednesday, November 2 | live from 11 AM – 12 PM Eastern

Produced by CancerCoachLive in Partnership with the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, TOUCH, BlackDoctors.org, CancerCare and the Moffitt Cancer Center

Differences in the quality of healthcare experience in the United States is related to many things, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or geographic location. Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic/Latino people and the second-leading cause of death among Black people, with lung cancer disproportionately affecting these and other non-White races/ethnicities. However, the majority participants in clinical trials are White (75%), compared to only 11% Hispanic and 8% Black participants.

“Represent Yourself: Improving Equity in Lung and Breast Cancer Clinical Trials,” an hour-long live interactive educational event on improving access to lung cancer clinical trials, takes place on Wednesday, November 2 at 11 AM. An expert panel will discuss why it is important for persons of color to participate in clinical trials that provide access to novel and breakthrough treatments for lung cancer. Panelists will examine common myths and misconceptions about clinical trials.

Patients will learn how to discuss clinical trials with their treatment teams, discover resources to find trials related to lung cancer, and determine if a trial could be the right treatment option for them. A Clinical Trial Resource Hub links to support websites.

To register for this educational session, click here.

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About CancerCoachLive: CancerCoachLive is the leading provider of interactive digital medical education for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. To improve patient care CancerCoachLive creates video-first educational modules with premier partners, so learners can better understand conditions, available treatment options, and the latest research. The company’s proprietary platform allows participants to engage in real-time discussion with scientific, research, and patient care experts. MedLive media contact, Becky Goplin, Marketing Director, MedLive, bgoplin@platformq.com, (414) 840-3907.

Posted in Education, PartnershipsTagged ,