Funding transformative science and raising awareness for lung cancer research

Lung Cancer Foundation of America is working to change the public perception of lung cancer through education and personal stories about lung cancer and to improve patient outcomes through funding impactful research.

Lung Cancer Foundation of America was started by 3 lung cancer advocates, Kim Norris, Lori Monroe and David Sturges who had a passionate drive to move the field of lung cancer research forward in order to positively affect the survival rate of lung cancer patients.

Our Mission

LCFA’s mission is the improvement in survivorship of lung cancer patients through the funding of transformative science.

While raising funds to support lung cancer research, LCFA will raise the public’s awareness and serve as a resource for patients or anyone seeking answers, hope, and access to updated treatment information, scientific investigation, and clinical trials.

I am so proud of our portfolio of researchers that LCFA has funded

Kim Norris, LCFA Co-Founder and President
Based on my own personal experience, the LCFA Young Investigator award was the very first grant that I was ever awarded. I’ve been able to leverage that now into several million dollars worth of funding.

Dr. Kellie Smith, LCFA-funded Researcher
Young Investigator grants encourage passionate early career researchers to build their career studying lung cancer.

Dr. Chritsine Lovly, LCFA-funded Researcher
Lung Cancer Foundation of America really is a foundation that started with a passion.

Dr. Robert Figlin, LCFA Board of Directors

The Heart of LCFA: Our Dedicated People

Board of Directors

Guiding LCFA’s Mission

Meet the dedicated LCFA Board, guiding our fight against lung cancer.
Scientific Advisory Board

Guiding LCFA’s Research Initiatives

Discover LCFA's Scientific Advisory Board: pioneers steering lung cancer research.
LCFA Staff

Meet Our Team

Meet LCFA's staff, the passionate force battling against lung cancer.

Learn about the Young Investigators

To attract the best and the brightest to the field of lung cancer, LCFA is committed to supporting young investigators with significant lung cancer research grant funding.

Meet the Researchers

LCFA Timeline

2004

June 29, 2004

Lori Monroe, LCFA founder, interviewed for Wall Street Journal article
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June 29, 2004

Lori Monroe, LCFA founder, interviewed for Wall Street Journal article

Amy Dockser Marcus interviewed LCFA founder Lori Monroe for an award-winning article, New Approach To Lung Cancer: Being Aggressive. A Pulitzer Prize-winning beat reporter, Marcus is recognized for her stories about patients, families, and physicians in the world of cancer survivors.

“Deciding which cancer patients should be treated aggressively is controversial. According to the National Cancer Institute, someone like Ms. Monroe, whose cancer had spread to both lungs, has a 99% chance of being dead within five years of diagnosis, even after surgery.”

Changes in the approach to treating patients with lung cancer

New approaches to lung cancer treatment are not only improving a patient’s quality of life but are even prolonging lives. Most importantly, get biomarker testing done to determine the most effective treatment.

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2007

March 20, 2007

The Launch of Lung Cancer Foundation of America
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March 20, 2007

The Launch of Lung Cancer Foundation of America

LCFA launched its journey with an investment of time, passion, and hope.

Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) was born of a commitment to improving the survivorship of lung cancer patients through the funding of transformative science. Its founders – a management consultant whose husband died from lung cancer; a young nurse diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer; and, an attorney who had also been diagnosed with lung cancer – came together to make this commitment a reality.

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2008

January 1, 2008

Scientific Advisory Board established by LCFA
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January 1, 2008

Scientific Advisory Board established by LCFA
The original Scientific Advisory Board was made up of these continued leaders in the lung cancer research community:
- Dr. David Carbone, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
- Dr. Steven Dubinett, Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Director, UCLA Lung Cancer Research Program in the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Principal Investigator for the UCLA Lung Cancer SPORE
- Dr. Bruce Johnson, Chief Clinical Research Officer Institute Physician, Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
- David Johnson, Donald W. Seldin Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas; Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas
- Frances Shepherd, Clinician Investigator, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  Cancer Clinical Research Unit (CCRU), Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Michael Weitz, Associate Director Emergency Services, Saint Johns Health Center
  Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Olive View UCLA Medical Center; Fadlo Khuri
Continuing the Best in Science Tradition

Lung Cancer Foundation of America is proud to work with world-renowned leaders in lung cancer research spanning a broad range of disciplines.

Members of the LCFA Scientific Advisory Board volunteer their time to:
- further LCFA’s mission through scientific and intellectual leadership
- consider and advise on proposals for new lung cancer research programs
- guide and advise on LCFA’s research investment
- provide grant review assessment, and
- help determine research programs and ideas that will further the accomplishment of the LCFA Mission
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July 16, 2008

LCFA works with Representative Waxman for SPORE program
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July 16, 2008

LCFA works with Representative Waxman for SPORE program

LCFA worked with Henry Waxman, the U.S. Representative for California’s 33rd congressional district to appeal to Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Director, National Cancer Institute (NCI) regarding SPORE program funding.

The establishment of the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) in 1992 with its dedication to translational research of all cancers marked yet another unique and important public commitment to cancer research. When the NCI announced changes to the SPORE Program in July 2005, LCFA reached out to Rep. Waxman to contact NCI. This correspondence reinforced the need to maintain funding that has reached an outstanding level of momentum in accomplishing important translational research goals.

“We again encourage the NCI to review the SPORE program understanding its unique and critical part in cancer research. We also ask that NCI undertake an immediate review and discussion of the Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and UCLA Lung SPORE grant renewal applications against the backdrop of the impending deadlines which may result in the termination of their grants.”

Continuation of the SPORE Program

The SPORE program continues today partly due to these efforts by LCFA. And LCFA continues in its mission to fight for more lung cancer research funding. The Translational Research Program (TRP) convened a Lung Cancer SPORE Workshop at the National Cancer Institute on June 13-14, 2019. Kim Norris and patient advocate Janet Freeman-Daily were among the attendees along with translational research investigators in lung cancer, program staff from NCI and the Department of Defense, and patient advocates.

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2009

January 1, 2009

OPI creates custom LCFA nail polish
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January 1, 2009

OPI creates custom LCFA nail polish

OPI creates custom colors – Color, Breathe, Life – especially for LCFA. LCFA created custom “Polish off Lung Cancer” fundraisers where volunteers polished nails using the OPI polish for a donation to LCFA.
https://lcfamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Why-we-need-your-help_polishing.jpg
It is time for everyone touched by lung cancer to get involved and take action. That’s why we need all of you. We need your help to change the course of this disease. The poor survival rate for lung cancer is a direct result of the lack of funding for lung cancer research.

Become a part of the solution – volunteer your efforts to raise funds for lung cancer research today!

Get involved – https://lcfamerica.org/get-involved/events/

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2010

July 25, 2010

Inaugural A Day at the Races event is held in Del Mar, CA
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July 25, 2010

Inaugural A Day at the Races event is held in Del Mar, CA

A Day at the Races, LCFA’s first live fundraising event, was held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, “where the turf meets the surf down in old Del Mar.” This premier event offered an afternoon of drinking, dining, spectacular racing views, and concierge betting service. Along with a silent auction and raffle drawing, the day also featured the LCFA Breath of Life Race.

Over the years, this annual event has raised over $300,000 to fund lung cancer research grants and awareness initiatives.

Get involved – https://lcfamerica.org/get-involved/

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2011

January 1, 2011

Partnership with IASLC & LCFA began
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January 1, 2011

Partnership with IASLC & LCFA began

Jessica Donington awarded grant for study of osteopontin and lung cancer detection.

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July 1, 2011

Release of LCFA’s Personalized Therapy for Lung Cancer Brochure
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July 1, 2011

Release of LCFA’s Personalized Therapy for Lung Cancer Brochure

LCFA provided copies of their Personalized Therapy for Lung Cancer brochure to the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Amsterdam, Netherlands and began distributing to lung cancer clinics, comprehensive cancer centers, etc.

Personalized therapy is an exciting new treatment for lung cancer. It may be used alone, before or after, or in combination with traditional chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Targeted therapies are treatments that specifically target mutational changes in cancer cells. Immuno-oncology is a kind of Immunotherapy that stimulates or uses a patient’s own immune system to combat cancer.

We call this “personalized medicine” because each patient’s tumor has a unique molecular profile. This profile can be any number of mutations that can happen in the genes of cancer cells. Patient A’s cancer may have mutation X, while Patient B’s may have mutation Y, and so on. This means that what works for one patient with lung cancer may not work for another. We are rapidly learning how to use this knowledge to match the best treatment for each individual patient.

Get your copy – https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/therapies/personalized-medicine-brochure-patients-caregivers/

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2012

August 20, 2012

LCFA produces PSA on the stigma of lung cancer
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August 20, 2012

LCFA produces PSA on the stigma of lung cancer

PSA Message: Don’t be fooled by the haze.

FACT: 60% of all new lung cancer diagnoses will be in non-smokers.

https://lcfamerica.org/lung-cancer-info/lung-cancer-facts/

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2013

November 30, 2013

LCFA Mourns the Loss of Co-Founder Lori Monroe
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November 30, 2013

LCFA Mourns the Loss of Co-Founder Lori Monroe

Twelve years after her diagnosis, Lori Monroe lost her battle with lung cancer. Her spirit, passion, commitment, and values continue to drive our organization in all we do.

Lori developed an insider’s knowledge of the key institutions, projects, and personnel in the world of lung cancer research. She leveraged this knowledge, combined with her considerable Southern charm, to address the lack of funding for lung cancer research. She also spoke about the stigma endlessly encountered by lung cancer patients.

Lori founded Lung Cancer Foundation of America with Kim Norris, a lung cancer widow, and David Sturges, another survivor, in 2007. LCFA’s mission is the dramatic improvement in survivorship of lung cancer patients through the funding of transformative science, with the ultimate goal of curing the disease.

Donate in memory of Lori Monroe -https://secure.lcfamerica.org/LoriMonroe

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2016

June 1, 2016

LCFA Announces the Class of 2016 Grant Award Recipients
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June 1, 2016

LCFA Announces the Class of 2016 Grant Award Recipients

Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) awarded a pair of two-year grants to support lung cancer research to Dr. Carla Martins and Dr. Kellie Smith.

Dr. Carla Martins
Dr. Martins’ research is focused on identifying a treatment that targets lung tumors with the KRAS mutation.

http://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/dr-carla-martins/

Dr. Smith’s research will dig deeper into the underlying reasons why some patients respond to immunotherapy and others do not.

http://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/dr-kellie-smith/

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October 31, 2016

Launched the “Little Things LCFA” campaign to increase lung cancer awareness
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October 31, 2016

Launched the “Little Things LCFA” campaign to increase lung cancer awareness

LCFA’s 2016 Lung Cancer Awareness Month reminded all that “Life is made up of little things that bring us so much joy. And yet, we rarely think about them – just like our ability to breathe.” To raise lung cancer awareness and donations for research, LCFA asked the community to share the Little Things in their life that are made possible by your lungs #LittleThingsLCFA

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2017

January 1, 2017

Celebrating LCFA’s 10-Year Anniversary
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January 1, 2017

Celebrating LCFA’s 10-Year Anniversary

In 2017, Lung Cancer Foundation of America celebrated our 10-year anniversary. During this time, we have been able to award $2,289,000 in lung cancer research grants!

To attract the best and the brightest researchers to the field of lung cancer, LCFA is committed to supporting young investigators with significant grant funding to pursue a long-term project over the course of multiple years.

Meet these researchers

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January 1, 2017

Meet the Investigator Series begins
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January 1, 2017

Meet the Investigator Series begins

LCFA highlights the work of major lung cancer researchers through videos of their work showcased on the LCFA website.

Among this group of dedicated scientists are investigators who have been recipients of research grants awarded by Lung Cancer Foundation of America. These investigators presented the “best science” proposal to LCFA’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Chosen to receive a significant lung cancer research grant, each of these scientists has a unique story. Learn more as they explain how their research helps lung cancer patients and the families and caregivers who support them.

Meet the inestigators – https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/meet-the-investigators/

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November 1, 2017

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2017
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November 1, 2017

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2017

LCFA produced Satellite Media Tours within 2017 that:

Reached nearly 45 million people in the United States
Reached viewers on both broadcast television and the internet and reached listeners on AM/FM radio
Reached viewers and listeners in both English and Spanish
Satellite Media Tours aired in top media markets throughout the country
See how LCFA is getting the message out to the community.

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2018

February 17, 2018

Lori Monroe Scholarship for Lung Cancer Research Recipients of 2017
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February 17, 2018

Lori Monroe Scholarship for Lung Cancer Research Recipients of 2017

LCFA’s 2017 recipients of the Lori Monroe Scholarship for Lung Cancer Research are Dr. Alice Berger and Dr. Christine Lovly.

Dr. Alice Berger

Dr. Alice Berger, a translational researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has received this $200,000, two-year award to advance her scientific focus on the genetics of lung cancer in women who have never smoked.

Dr. Christine Lovly
Dr. Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine operates a research laboratory at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. She has focused on early detection of lung cancer and the need to develop novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with the disease, including liquid biopsies.

Lung Cancer Research Recipients Share How They Benefit From LCFA Grant
Listen to Dr. Alice Berger and Dr. Christine Lovly share how this research grant was used and how it has impacted the ability to continue their impactful research.

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May 11, 2018

Young Lung Cancer Investigators Awarded $200K to Improve Lung Cancer Outcomes
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May 11, 2018

Young Lung Cancer Investigators Awarded $200K to Improve Lung Cancer Outcomes

These young investigators are studying new lung cancer treatments generally known as combination therapies. These treatments aim to enhance the activity of currently available immunotherapy (the body’s own immune response) by combining it with other new treatments.

Dr. Kathryn Beckermann – https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/dr-kathryn-beckermann/

Dr. Zoltan Lohinai – https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/dr-zoltan-lohinai/

The grants were awarded to Kathryn Beckermann, M.D., Ph.D., a research fellow in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Zoltan Lohinai, M.D., Ph.D., a pulmonary oncologist and researcher at the National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology in Budapest, Hungary.

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June 1, 2018

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2018
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June 1, 2018

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2018

In 2018, LCFA’s Satellite Media Tours focused on important topics in lung cancer research such as:

Biomarkers
Clinical Trials
Targeted Therapies
Immunotherapy
Early Detection
Liquid Biopsies

The media distribution for these tours included:

a bi-lingual English/Spanish speaking Satellite Media Tour (SMT) in June 2018 picked up by 30 Outlets, 279 Hits, and 6,710,372 Impressions
an English speaking SMT in October 2018 picked up by 21 Outlets in top 100 Media Markets, 267 Hits, and 12,233,417 Impressions
presence on the LCFA website
on the websites of the various media outlets

Learn more about LCFA’s community outreach – https://lcfamerica.org/about/lung-cancer-community-outreach/

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August 1, 2018

Launch of Hope With Answers video series
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August 1, 2018

Launch of Hope With Answers video series

Hope With Answers℠ pairs lung cancer patients with leading lung cancer doctors talking about the questions that matter most to lung cancer patients. And, getting the answers from doctors who specialize in lung cancer and dedicate their careers to staying up to date on the best tests, latest effective treatment options, and what exciting things are on the horizon to help lung cancer patients and their families.

The Hope With Answers℠ video series includes videos on biomarker testing, staging in lung cancer, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, thoracic surgery, EGFR biomarker, ALK biomarker, clinical trials and much more.

The videos are designed as stepping stones with the Intro videos discussing the most basic information, followed by the intermediate videos with some deeper knowledge and the in-depth videos providing the most intricate details.

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November 30, 2018

LCFA Award Recipients of 2018
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November 30, 2018

LCFA Award Recipients of 2018

Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) awarded a pair of two-year grants to support lung cancer research to Dr. Kellie Smith and Dr. Haiying Cheng.

Dr. Kellie Smith will perform a detailed analysis of the immune system and how it changes upon treatment in never-smoker NSCLC patients.

https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/dr-kellie-smith-2/

Dr. Haiying Cheng will investigate the frequencies of the RICTOR gene in general lung cancer patients, whether its presence predicts brain metastasis, and why it is associated with brain metastasis.

https://lcfamerica.org/research-grants/grants/awarded/haiying-cheng-md-phd/

Read full press release – https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-young-women-lung-cancer-investigators-receive-200k-research-grants-from-lung-cancer-foundation-of-america-and-the-international-association-for-the-study-of-lung-cancer-300740041.html/

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2019

June 12, 2019

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2019
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June 12, 2019

Raising Lung Cancer Awareness LCFA Satellite Media Tours 2019

LCFA Speakers Raising Awareness on National News in 2019
On November 1, 2019, SELF Magazine online featured Gina Hollenbeck and Elizabeth Moir in 5 Things No One Tells You About Living With Lung Cancer
Impressions: 8,000,000

Gina Hollenbeck

Read Gina’s story | Read Elizabeth’s story

On November 7, 2019, Time Health magazine featured Gina Hollenbeck and Alice Berger in Lung Cancer Rates Among Women Are Falling Much Slower Than Those in Men. Here’s Why
Impressions: 21,000,000

Dr. Alice Berger
Learn more about Dr Berger’s research

On November 12, 2019, Today.com, MSN.com, 7NEWS.com.au featured links to LCFA website in Nonsmoking mom of 4 thought she had asthma, but it was late-stage lung cancer, a story about an ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer patient.
Impressions: 13,000,000 / 5,000,000/ 5,000,000

Learn more about ALK positive lung cancer

Raising lung cancer awareness and research funding
LCFA’s mission is to inform the public about the risks and symptoms of lung cancer, disseminate the latest research discoveries, and advocate for more lung cancer research funding. Through national satellite media tours, enrichment videos, and our knowledgeable Speakers Bureau, LCFA works relentlessly to get the message out.

Learn more about LCFA’s outreach

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