October was a busy month! LUNGevity continues to drive change through impactful initiatives and funding research to ensure that patients have access to lifesaving therapies as quickly as possible. Stand Up To Cancer–LUNGevity Foundation–American Lung Association Lung Cancer Interception Research AwardsLeft to right: awardee Maximilian Diehn, Stanford University; awardee Lecia Sequist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harold Wimmer, American Lung Association; Andrea Ferris, LUNGevity Foundation; Bree Turner, SU2C Ambassador; awardee Avrum Spira, Boston University; awardee Steven Dubinett, UCLA On October 26, 2017, LUNGevity announced two new research teams for the early detection and interception of lung cancer. These awards, a collaboration between LUNGevity Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), and the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative, are the first-ever SU2C teams focused on cancer “interception” – catching the precancerous cells and blocking them from turning into cancer cells – and total $7 million over 4 years. The teams will develop tools to find cancer at its earlier stage when it is most treatable, as well as the treatments to stop its progression, potentially saving thousands of lives. Scientific and Clinical Research RoundtableAt the beginning of October, LUNGevity Foundation hosted its third Scientific and Clinical Research Roundtable, bringing together members of the US FDA, European regulatory agencies (EMA), clinicians, drug manufacturers, and patient groups. Participants had an active exchange about challenges, opportunities, and action steps in streamlining clinical trials and making sure that trials are open to more lung cancer patients, thereby providing quicker access to new treatments. Capitol Hill Briefing on Precision MedicineLUNGevity and AdvaMedDx hosted a Capitol Hill briefing to discuss the importance of advanced diagnostics in the precision medicine paradigm. During the well-attended briefing, speakers shared the tremendous progress that has been made in the last few years in the areas of advanced diagnostics and precision medicine, and discussed key issues that support innovation and access in these areas, including quality and reimbursement. Learn more about LUNGevity’s Take Aim Initiative, whose goal is to ensure that ALL people diagnosed with non-small lung cancer have access to biomarker testing so they can fully benefit from advances in precision medicine and immunotherapy, as well as clinical trials. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month!Look for our fall Fresh Air newsletter to arrive soon, as well as news about a new public awareness campaign! We have lots of ways to get involved and join the movement to change outcomes for people living with lung cancer. Upcoming MeetingsLUNGevity is participating in these upcoming meetings.
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