What's new in April!
ACTION, AWARENESS, HOPE
Register Now: HOPE Summit and Small Cell Smashers Live Are Almost Here
May 1-3, 2026
Join hundreds of people in Dallas, TX, for LUNGEvity’s annual HOPE Summit survivorship conference. HOPE Summit is free to attend and is your place to find your people—from long-term survivors to those who are newly diagnosed and care partners.
We are honored to announce that this year's keynote speaker is Dr. Ross Camidge, a world-renowned lung cancer researcher, and lung cancer survivor. Dr. Camidge brings a uniquely powerful perspective to HOPE Summit, bridging the worlds of cutting-edge science and the deeply personal experience of living with lung cancer.
From breakout sessions by lung cancer type to Ask-the-Expert panels, HOPE Summit has sessions for everyone—those living with lung cancer, long-time survivors, care partners, and even your kids. Check out the full agenda here.
Have questions about the weekend? Talk with one of our HOPE Summit Ambassadors.
New this Year
Small Cell SMASHERS Live is a conference specifically for people diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, led by Dr. Misty Shields, host of the monthly Small Cell SMASHERS, webinar.
Upcoming: Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat
Friday, April 24 | 12-1 PM ET
Make sure you're following us on YouTube to see the next Small Cell SMASHERS Fireside Chat with Dr. Catherine Meador as she discusses Transformed SCLC: Understanding Biology, Detection, and Identifying Novel Targets.
If you missed last month's chat discussing managing brain metastases in SCLC, you can watch the recording here.
Coming Soon! LUNGevity's NEW Podcast: Lung Cancer Voices of Hope
Join Misty Shields, MD, PhD, thoracic medical oncologist, and Ann Fish-Steagall, BSN, RN, LUNGevity's Sr. VP of Patient Services, as they sit down with lung cancer survivors and leading experts to explore what it truly means to live with lung cancer.
Each episode dives into the topics that matter most to you:
- Building community in cancer care
- Making the most of your doctor visits
- Nutrition & wellness
- Mental health & emotional well-being
- Clinical trials
- And so much more!
The first episode drops on April 23!
TWO CITIES. TWO CELEBRATED GROUPS. ONE AMAZING CAUSE—LUNG CANCER RESEARCH
freestyle+ – Live at TRIBECA 360
Join us in New York City on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, for freestyle+ – Live at TRIBECA 360°. This unforgettable evening features the award-winning hip-hop improv sensation founded by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Created entirely in the moment, this high-energy performance blends music, comedy, and audience collaboration into a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t see anywhere else.
Every beat, rhyme, and laugh supports the mission of LUNGevity Foundation, with proceeds benefitting lung cancer research, early detection efforts, and more effective treatments to help people live longer, fuller lives.
Bring your friends and be part of a night shaped in real time filled with creativity, connection, and purpose
Laughs for LUNGevity
Get ready for a night of big laughs and even bigger impact, with proceeds going to lung cancer research and early detection efforts, at Laughs for LUNGevity on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at The Second City – UP Comedy Club Theatre in Chicago.
The evening begins at 7:00 PM with a lively cocktail reception, followed by The Best of Second City: 65 Years of Funny—a 90-minute showcase of the theatre’s most beloved scenes, songs, and legendary improv moments.
Tickets are available now, including a limited number of Early Bird tickets at $150 (only 100 available through May 13). Sponsorship opportunities are also open for organizations and individuals looking to expand their impact while gaining meaningful visibility.
Join us for an evening where laughter meets purpose—and help transform the future of lung cancer.
SCIENCE & RESEARCH CORNER
Each year, the IASLC Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting brings together the brightest minds in research, care, and advocacy. This year’s conference, held February 18–21, 2026, in Huntington Beach, California, delivered powerful scientific insights and deeply human moments that remind us why progress in lung cancer is about innovation and people.
Three Moments That Defined the 2026 Targeted Therapies Conference
Our latest article describes three compelling presentations from the 2026 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting, including:
- A world-class physician-scientist sharing his own lung cancer journey
- A revolutionary way to think about tumor mutations from a renowned expert
- An acclaimed advocate calling for stronger patient involvement in research
LUNGevity at AACR 2026: Advancing Patient Centered Lung Cancer Research
LUNGevity’s lung cancer expertise and research are helping shape the future of lung cancer at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), one of the world’s most influential cancer research conferences. This year’s meeting will take place April 17–22, 2026, in San Diego, bringing together leading scientists, clinicians, and advocates from around the globe.
At the meeting, LUNGevity will present important research focused on a growing challenge for patients: finding clinical trials that are close enough to participate in. This study explores why patients face these barriers and lays the groundwork for real-world solutions to make clinical trials more accessible. AACR selected these findings for presentation during a poster session and, in recognition of their impact, also featured the work in an official AACR conference press release.
Beyond sharing research, LUNGevity is also helping lead the conversation at the meeting. Ann FishSteagall, BSN, RN, LUNGevity’s senior vice president of Patient Services, will serve on a panel about the role of patient advocacy organizations in accelerating translational research and clinical trial enrollment for small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine cancers.
Want to stay connected with lung cancer research presented at AACR?
Don't Miss Out!
Our research newsletter keeps you up to date on all the latest scientific developments in lung cancer. Subscribe now and watch for the next issue coming soon.
Are You Interested in Policy and Advocacy?
Join the LUNGevity Action Network to get the latest updates on our policy activities and ways that you can make an impact to transform lung cancer! Sign up here to receive our monthly newsletter, periodic action alerts, and information about upcoming events.
We have several active campaigns that you can use to write your members of Congress about policy priorities for the lung cancer community, including increased research funding and legislation to improve access to lung cancer screening. Let your legislators know what matters to you!
New Webinar Series on Understanding Biomarkers
The Cancer Precision Medicine Commons, hosted by LUNGevity, recently launched a three-part Global Pan-Cancer Program Webinar Series: Understanding Biomarker Testing, created to help people with cancer and their care partners better understand an important part of today’s care.
During the first session, speakers broke down what biomarker testing is, why it matters, and when it may be used, along with key terms to help make sense of the process and results. Each session in this series is designed to deliver clear, practical information in a short, easy-to-follow format.
If you missed it—or would like a refresher—you can watch the recording here and keep up with this series and more upcoming webinars on the LUNGevity calendar. For more information on biomarker testing in lung cancer, visit our No One Missed website for resources.
Bringing Hope from Hawaii to Boston
When Shay Nakahira learned that her friend and med school classmate, Dylan, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer at just 27 years old, she jumped into action.
This month, she’ll be racing in Dylan’s honor at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, as part of the Team LUNGevity BYOB program. Together, they’ve raised more than $20,000 for lung cancer research – with no sign of stopping!
You can join Shay as part of our Bring Your Own Bib (B.Y.O.B.) program by selecting any race – a local 5K, destination race, multi-sport event, or anything in between – and setting your own fundraising goal!
Meeting People Where They Are
Lung Cancer early detection saves lives, but only when people know they are eligible for screening and can access it.
That is the driving force behind two of our community programs this spring and throughout the year:
In Washington, D.C., our Spring into Screening event brought community members together with healthcare providers and local organizations for open, honest conversations about lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate health.
Meanwhile, across the country, LUNGevity is on the road as the nonprofit partner for the LungXperience Tour, a national mobile health initiative created by AstraZeneca and Kroger Health. From racetracks to community events, we are meeting people where they are, sharing essential information about lung cancer, who should be screened, and why early detection matters.
From racetracks to community events, we are meeting people where they are, sharing essential information about lung cancer, who should be screened, and why early detection matters.
Upcoming stops include:
- Kansas Speedway (April 17–19)
- Texas Motor Speedway (May 1–3)
- NHRA Chicago (May 14–17)
- Nashville Superspeedway (May 29–31
With many more events planned throughout 2026, the LungXperience Tour continues to expand its reach, bringing education, awareness, and support to communities nationwide.
Interested in attending or volunteering? Find a stop near you and sign up to volunteer.
In Case You Missed It
Newsletter: March Advocacy & Policy Update
LUNGevity is transforming what it means to be diagnosed and live with lung cancer.
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