Funding supports search for new treatments for the deadliest form of cancer

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Groundbreaking research into the early diagnosis of lung cancer and potential new treatments have been awarded funding through two lung cancer research-focused foundations. Lung Cancer Foundation of America (LCFA) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) have partnered to fund the Lori Monroe Scholarship for Lung Cancer Research. These $200,000 grants support promising new research led by two female scientists, the second year in a row that both Lori Monroe Scholarship recipients go to women.

Dr. Alice Berger, researching female never smokers with lung cancer

Alice Berger, Ph.D. is an Assistant Member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Assistant Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. Her work focuses on female lung cancer patients who have never smoked, and have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Christine Lovly, researching small cell lung cancer diagnostic and treatment strategies

Christine Lovly, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Medicine with the Division of Hematology-Oncology at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. Her work focuses on early detection of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and the need to develop novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for patients with this disease, including liquid biopsies.

“The IASLC is proud to join LCFA in providing these grants to two very promising young investigators. These important research projects will hopefully lead to encouraging results benefiting many lung cancer patients,” said Dr. Fred R. Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of the IASLC.

“The LCFA/IASLC Lori Monroe Scholarship for Lung Cancer Research is the kind of private donor funding that is the lifeline for pioneering researchers like Berger and Lovly to conduct their important work to help give lung cancer patients improved treatment options,” said Kim Norris, LCFA President and Co-Founder.

To date, LCFA and the IASLC have partnered to fund more than $1.8 million in research grants.

About IASLC

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association’s membership includes more than 6,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

About LCFA

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. Visit lcfamerica.org for the latest information and to donate.

Press Contacts

Diane Mulligan | dmullligan@mandccommunications.com | 720.273.0927

Becky Bunn | Becky.bunn@iaslc.org |720.325.2946