How Grants Move Research Forward

Funding Fails to Align With Mortality Impact

Lung Cancer: Deadliest but Underfunded

Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer, yet federal funding significantly trails that for breast, colon and prostate cancers. In 2019, lung cancer received just over $300 million in NIH grants – less than half the amount given to leading sites like prostate and breast cancers. Poor five-year survival rates of 23% for lung cancer patients highlight the need for robust funding that enables accelerated research. With more investment, scientists could build on recent gains in targeted therapies and immunotherapies to find new ways to combat lung cancer’s complexity and improve outcomes.

Disparities in Funding Align Poorly with Impact

Current funding disparities send more research dollars toward the most prevalent cancer types, but fail to align with mortality impact. Lung cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer deaths, but only receives about 9% of federal cancer research grants. Meanwhile, breast cancer represents 15% of cancer deaths, yet benefits from over 20% of cancer research funding. More balanced dissemination of grants to match disease burden could rapidly advance lung cancer research. With over 135,000 deaths from lung cancer each year in the U.S., increased funding could lead to breakthrough discoveries that substantially reduce mortality.

Why Lung Cancer Research Grants Matter

Lung cancer research has made exciting progress. But more funding is really important to speed things up. In the last 10 years, researchers have developed new targeted therapies. These therapies stop specific changes in cells that cause cancer growth. Doctors have also started using immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors. These help the immune system attack lung tumors. These new advances give new hope. But big challenges remain. Lung cancer is very complex with hundreds of mutations. More research money can support bigger clinical trials. That will help get emerging therapies to patients faster. It can also uncover new ways to treat lung cancer.

More funding can also attract top scientists to study lung cancer’s complexities. Getting the brightest minds on lung cancer research means the best ideas get tested. Young researchers especially need funding to try new projects early in their careers. With more dollars for cancer research, progress against lung cancer – the deadliest cancer – could speed up dramatically.

The Promise of Fairer Research Funding

Achieving more balanced federal funding based on cancer’s death rates would allow lung cancer research to move faster. Patients fighting this devastating disease would directly benefit from the knowledge and lives saved. Stories of survivors living years longer thanks to new therapies provide hope. More research investment increases chances for new breakthroughs. Giving federal grants fairly based on cancer deaths rather than just cases would save more lives across cancers. Funding research according to disease burden is key to winning the cancer fight.

LCFA’s Young Investigator Grants

Research grants, like those funded by the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA), play a crucial role in advancing the world of lung cancer research. These grants provide financial support to scientists and researchers who are dedicated to unraveling the complexities of lung cancer and developing innovative treatments.

By investing in cutting-edge research, LCFA helps to accelerate scientific discoveries, identify new therapeutic targets, and improve patient outcomes.

Through the funding of transformative science, the progress in the field of lung cancer research but also providing hope and access to updated treatment information, clinical trials, and potential breakthroughs for lung cancer patients. The impact of research grants extends far beyond the laboratory, offering a lifeline to individuals and families affected by this devastating disease.