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NEW YORK, NY (may 23, 2019) — The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) today announced that Dr. Katerina Politi has been named the chair of its Scientific Advisory Board. Politi, an Associate Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine (in the Section of Medical Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, will be taking over the role from Dr. James B. Dougherty, who has held the chair position for 14 years.

Politi studied Biology at the University of Pavia in Italy, and she obtained her PhD in genetics and development, working with Argiris Efstratiadis at Columbia University. Following graduate school, she joined Harold Varmus’s lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and began her work on the molecular basis of lung cancer. She continues this work today in her laboratory at Yale School of Medicine.

Previously, Politi received two research grants from LCRF. In 2010, she received a grant to study mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. In 2013, her LCRF-funded project again investigated resistance to targeted therapies, this time focusing on understanding the influence of tumor cell-of-origin and heterogeneity on acquired resistance. Today, Politi’s laboratory continues to focus on studying the molecular basis of tumor formation, progression and mechanisms of resistance to therapies directed against mutant EGFR. In addition, her laboratory investigates the basic mechanisms that underlie interactions between cancer cells and immune cells and how these affect sensitivity and resistance to cancer immunotherapies. Her work has resulted in numerous scientific publications and presentations, and in her role as LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board chair, Politi will work to foster and steward funding paradigms that support similar research.

“I am excited and honored to chair LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board and look forward to working with my colleagues on the Scientific Advisory Board, the Board of Directors and LCRF’s dedicated staff to continue the Foundation’s commitment to funding outstanding lung cancer research and investigators,” said Politi.

LCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board includes renowned scientists, physicians and thought leaders spanning a broad range of disciplines in lung cancer research who leverage their collective experience and expertise to maintain the objectivity of the grant selection process and help to ensure that LCRF continues to fund research of the highest caliber. The group is responsible for the review of grant applications and providing opinions and strategic input to LCRF’s Board of Directors on relevant topics. Members are selected and recruited based on their level of expertise, prominence in the field of lung cancer research, and commitment to LCRF’s mission.

In his role as Scientific Advisory Board chair, Dougherty has overseen the awarding of over $13M in funding for over 180 research projects. During his tenure, he has stewarded the growth of LCRF and its grant program from an intramural initiative at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to an independent foundation, which operates a grant program that receives over 200 applications annually. As both chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and a founding member of the Board of Directors, Dougherty has played a key operational and strategic role, helping to grow LCRF’s portfolio of research that has the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. While Dougherty’s tenure as chair of the Scientific Advisory Board will officially end on junio 1, he will continue to work closely with Politi and LCRF staff to ensure a smooth transition.

“Dr. Politi will bring a fresh perspective and vision to this role and will continue to build upon LCRF’s strong legacy of supporting lung cancer scientists,” said James B. Dougherty, MD, former chair, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board. “She is a very talented researcher and her work exemplifies the importance of funding basic science.”

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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 provided $33 million in research grants to investigators around the world. In addition to funding lung cancer research, the organization focuses on lung cancer awareness and educational programs. The Foundation also hosts community events nationwide through its Free to Breathe® Events Program. For more information, visit www.lcrf.org

Posted in Announcements, Women & Lung CancerTagged

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation is delighted to continue our partnership with Merck on Your Cancer Game Plan and the launch of a new program, With Love, Me.

With Love, Me features a series of heartfelt letters written by caregivers and cancer survivors to their newly diagnosed selves and other caregivers touching upon what they wish they had known when they were first diagnosed/providing care. There’s great power in sharing stories, and when it comes to facing cancer, patients and caregivers have found hearing from others affected by cancer may help.

Please visit www.WithLoveMe.com to read and view these personal letters from people impacted by cancer, become inspired and learn more about how to take an active role in developing a “game plan” to address the emotional, health and communication challenges of a cancer journey. Share your own #WithLoveMe message because your cancer story may help others.

Posted in Awareness

NEW YORK, NY (abril 30, 2019) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) and Pfizer Global Medical Grants today announced a collaboration to fund over $1 million in research grants through a Competitive Research Grant Program. The research grant opportunity is focused on understanding ways to improve clinical practices for side effect management for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving targeted therapies. This is the first collaboration of its kind in lung cancer and could have an impact on patient care.

Lung cancer is currently the number one cause of cancer death both in the U.S. and globally among both men and women. An estimated 625 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every day. As research funding grows, new treatments become available and survival rates improve. For some lung cancer patients, one promising treatment option is the rapidly growing field of targeted therapies, which employs drugs that interfere with specific molecules involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer. Currently, targeted therapies are used to treat NSCLC that has metastasized. Among patients with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of NSCLC, up to 30% have a known oncogenic driver mutation that could ultimately be treated with targeted therapies.

Oncology drugs, including targeted therapies, cause toxicity and there is a significant clinical need for effective identification, diagnosis and treatment of therapy side effects. This grant is aimed at improving the management of these side effects in patients receiving targeted therapies and will provide support for health services research in this area, with the hope that it will improve duration of treatment and therefore clinical outcomes as well as patient satisfaction with therapy. Through this collaboration, LCRF and Pfizer ultimately seek to increase lung cancer survival and improve outcomes for lung cancer patients.

“LCRF is honored to continue its nearly two-decade legacy of identifying and supporting over 300 impactful lung cancer research projects by partnering with Pfizer who continues to be a generous supporter of our mission,” said James B. Dougherty, MD, Chair, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board. “The specific focus of this grant program is to study targeted lung cancer therapy side effects, which is very timely and important to the many patients and their caregivers receiving such drugs.”

Through this funding mechanism, LCRF and Pfizer will support up to three innovative health services research projects focused on the improved management of treatment toxicities from targeted therapies in lung cancer patients. The three grants of up to $350,000 will support a research period of two years to investigators at US-based institutions. LCRF will announce the awardees in noviembre 2019 at its annual Lung Cancer Awareness Luncheon.

“Pfizer is proud to partner with LCRF to further research in non-small cell lung cancer,” said Julia Perkins-Smith, Vice President, North America Medical, Pfizer Oncology. “Our hope is that these grants will fund research that may improve the experience of those living with lung cancer who are receiving targeted therapies, and provide new guidance to the doctors who are treating them.”

LCRF is the largest lung cancer focused foundation in the U.S. supporting lung cancer research. 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 362 research grants totaling $33 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. Pfizer Global Medical Grants (GMG) supports the global healthcare community’s independent initiatives to improve patient outcomes.

To learn more about LCRF visit www.lcrf.org

To learn more about Pfizer visit www.pfizer.com

To review the request for proposals (RFP), visit www.lcrf.org/funding-opportunities

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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 provided $33 million in research grants to investigators around the world. In addition to funding lung cancer research, the organization focuses on lung cancer awareness and educational programs. The Foundation also hosts community events nationwide through its Free to Breathe Events Program.

About Pfizer Oncology

At Pfizer Oncology, we are committed to advancing medicines wherever we believe we can make a meaningful difference on the lives of patients. Today, Pfizer Oncology has an industry-leading portfolio of 18 approved innovative cancer medicines and biosimilars across more than 20 indications, including breast, prostate, kidney, lung and hematology. Pfizer Oncology is striving to change the trajectory of cancer.

Posted in Announcements, Partnerships, UncategorizedTagged ,

Jen is someone most people would describe as a supermom: active and on the go with three children ages 4-10. That’s why she was surprised when she couldn’t shake the post-nasal cough she developed over the summer of 2017. “I hadn’t been feeling great and thought allergies were the problem. I almost never get sick, though,” she recalled. “I took a full course of antibiotics and somehow felt worse afterwards. They took a chest x-ray and the results showed some abnormalities.” Things escalated quickly from there.

Jen was admitted to the hospital after her neck became so swollen that she had difficulty breathing. Eight days later, the doctor broke the news that Jen had a mass in her lungs—one that was indicative of lung cancer. “What do you mean, I have lung cancer? This is crazy!” Jen recalled thinking after hearing she was facing stage IV non-small cell lung cancer at the age of 38.

Many people don’t think of lung cancer as a women’s issue. What they don’t realize is that lung cancer claims the lives of more women than breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers combined.

Fortunately for Jen, her healthcare team performed biomarker testing on her tumor, which tested positive for the cancer-causing ALK genetic mutation. This insight opened up Jen’s options for treatment. “They put me on alectinib (Alecensa®), which helps treat ALK positive lung cancer tumors. It helped shrink and then stabilize the growth of my tumor,” she explained. “After just four days of being on alectinib, I felt great and I haven’t looked back since.” Jen has fondly nicknamed alectinib her “miracle drug.”

And Jen’s zest for life never wavered. She searched the internet for ways to connect with other ALK positive lung cancer patients and advocate for more research behind life-saving lung cancer treatment options. Jen joined two patient advocacy groups, ALK+ and ALK Fusion. “We figured, let’s take matters into our own hands,” Jen recalled discussing in her group meetings. “I want doctors to understand the patient experience more, and there’s so much positivity that can arise from collaborating with them.” Today, Jen takes a stand for better lung cancer treatment by fundraising—she helped organize and fundraise almost $700,000 so far—and by sharing her story at conferences and community events.

“At the end of the day we are people, and we all want the same thing. We need more treatment options so we do not have to constantly face this idea of the ‘end of the road.’ I’m just trying to save my life, and my life is in the hands of science.”

“I need medicine, here and now. I will do anything to stay here with my children. This is my reason.”

Jen channels her energy into reading up on the latest lung cancer research and traveling to speak with oncologists, researchers and community members to emphasize the urgency of being able to live beyond a lung cancer diagnosis.
“Every day is a new day and a new chance,” she explained.

Jen’s latest fundraising efforts are keeping her quite busy as she prepares a community social event set to occur in jun. “Already we have 60 people who will be attending, and all we did to get started was a fundraising page on social media.”

Jen’s story of hope is just one of many in the LCRF community. Research can change what it means to receive a lung cancer diagnosis, and that’s why we’re so passionate about supporting the research behind treatments like the one that has made such a difference to Jen.

Posted in Awareness, People, Women & Lung CancerTagged

On Wednesday, abril 11, 2019, the FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy treatment that can be used for the first-line treatment of patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

This indication expands treatment options available for PD-L1 positive NSCLC patients (with EGFR or ALK mutations) who are not candidates for surgery or chemoradiation. Previously, pembrolizumab was FDA approved only in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic NSCLC.

This latest approval stems from the findings of the KEYNOTE-042 clinical trial. Study participants in the trial had statistically significant overall survival in those who received pembrolizumab versus those who received chemotherapy alone. This was seen across all levels of PD-L1 expression making pembrolizumab a critical addition to the treatment options available for this patient group. Find out more at this link.

Posted in FDA News

New York, NY (febrero 11, 2019) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s (LCRF) strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. LCRF was chosen as one of seven highly-rated cancer research organizations highlighted by Charity Navigator for World Cancer Day on febrero 4, 2019.

Since 2002, using objective analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added 17 metrics, focused on governance and ethical practices as well as measures of openness, to its ratings methodology. These Accountability & Transparency metrics, which account for 50 percent of a charity’s overall rating, reveal which charities operate in accordance with industry best practices and whether they are open with their donors and stakeholders. On junio 1, 2016, Charity Navigator upgraded its methodology for rating each charity’s’ financial health with CN 2.1. These enhancements further substantiate the financial health of its four star charities.

“The Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s exceptional 4-star rating sets it apart from its peers and demonstrates its trustworthiness to the public,” according to Michael Thatcher, President & CEO of Charity Navigator. “Only a quarter of charities rated by Charity Navigator receive the distinction of our 4-star rating. This adds LCRF to a preeminent group of charities working to overcome our world’s most pressing challenges. Based on its 4-star rating, people can trust that their donations are going to a financially responsible and ethical charity when they decide to support LCRF.”

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to support our mission and fund lung cancer research,” said Dennis P. Chillemi, LCRF Executive Director. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.”

LCRF’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on www.charitynavigator.org. More detailed information about LCRF’s rating is available to Charity Navigator site visitors who become registered users, another free service.

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is the pre-eminent 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 362 research grants, totaling nearly $33 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.

About Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org, is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined. The organization helps guide intelligent giving by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability & Transparency of more than 8,000 charities. Charity Navigator accepts no advertising or donations from the organizations it evaluates, ensuring unbiased evaluations, nor does it charge the public for this trusted data. As a result, Charity Navigator, a 501 (c) (3) public charity itself, depends on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that believe it provides a much-needed service to America’s charitable givers. Charity Navigator, can be reached directly by telephone at (201) 818-1288, or by mail at 139 Harristown Road, Suite 101, Glen Rock, N.J., 07452.

Posted in Announcements

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation has announced a request for proposals for research projects with a focus on overcoming disparities in lung cancer.

Lung cancer continues to be the number one cause of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for an estimated 154,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. Additionally, with higher incidence rates and worse survival, lung cancer disproportionately affects various groups such as African Americans, Native Americans, low socioeconomic status populations and certain geographic locations. Despite progress to reduce the burden of tobacco, disparities in tobacco-related morbidity and mortality also remain. To help address these challenges, with support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation in loving memory of Kathryn Louloudis, LCRF will support two research projects in 2019 with a focus on overcoming disparities in lung cancer.

Kathryn Louloudis joined the Stavros Niarchos Group in 1985, before the establishment of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and went on to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the SNF’s New York office. SNF is supporting lung cancer research to honor the commitment, strength, and dignity Kathryn brought to her work.

Posted in Announcements, Grants

New York, NY (noviembre 28, 2018) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) recently named Dennis P. Chillemi as its new executive director. LCRF is the largest lung cancer focused foundation in the US supporting lung cancer research. Its mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer.

Mr. Chillemi most recently served as the senior director of development at the Lymphoma Research Foundation, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of national strategic plans for all fundraising activities, including corporate sponsorship, distinguished events and planned gifts.

Prior to joining the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Chillemi served as the executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Connecticut Westchester Hudson Valley Chapter, where he worked to implement new revenue streams and reduce expenses to improve organizational efficiencies and return on investment. Chillemi also founded two successful volunteer-led fundraising events that yielded more than $2.5 million in new revenue for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Mr. Chillemi’s management and administrative experience includes twenty-three years as a member of law enforcement, where he held a variety of positions and served two consecutive terms as an elected official in local government.

“Dennis’ expertise with nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and events makes him the ideal candidate for this position,” said Brendon M. Stiles, MD, LCRF Board Chair. “This is an exciting time for our organization and we are thrilled to have Dennis at the helm.”

In his role as executive director, Mr. Chillemi will focus on growing the impact of the organization on a national level, drive awareness and raise much needed funds to support cutting edge research in lung cancer.

“LCRF does incredible work in the lung cancer field, and I am honored to be joining as the new executive director of the organization,” said Mr. Chillemi. “I look forward to collaborating with the Board of Directors, staff and our incredible supporters as we work diligently to make an impact in the lives of those affected by lung cancer.”

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About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is the pre-eminent 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 362 research grants, totaling nearly $33 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.

Posted in Announcements

Lee Bender, a lung cancer survivor and advocate, recently appeared on 6ABC to promote the Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s Philadelphia Free to Breathe Run/Walk.

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation’s Philadelphia Free to Breathe Run/Walk was highlighted recently when lung cancer survivor and advocate Lee Bender appeared on 6ABC’s Action News.

View the segment here: https://lcrf.org/2zv8ffl

Posted in Awareness, People
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